BHEL To Serve As Nodal Agency For EV Charging Infrastructure Under PM E-Drive Scheme

Union Minister for Heavy Industries H.D. Kumaraswamy chaired an inter-ministerial coordination meeting Tuesday to review and accelerate implementation of EV charging infrastructure under the PM E-Drive scheme, with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited being considered as the nodal agency for demand aggregation and development of a unified EV super app, according to the Press Information Bureau.

The meeting included senior officials from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and Ministry of Heavy Industries to fast-track deployment of the charging infrastructure initiative launched under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

The PM E-Drive scheme operates with a financial outlay of ₹2,000 crore and will support installation of approximately 72,000 EV public charging stations across the country. The stations will be strategically deployed along 50 national highway corridors and within high-traffic destinations including metro cities, toll plazas, railway stations, airports, fuel outlets, and state highways.

BHEL will serve as the nodal agency for demand aggregation and coordinate development of a unified digital super app that will function as a single platform for EV users across India. The application will feature real-time slot booking, payment integration, charger availability status, and progress dashboards for tracking national deployment under the PM E-Drive scheme. BHEL will also coordinate with states and ministries to compile and evaluate proposals for charger installations.

"Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, India is on the path to becoming a global model for sustainable transport. The PM E-Drive scheme is a transformative initiative aimed at giving our citizens access to clean, affordable, and convenient mobility options. We are not just building infrastructure; we are building the foundation for energy security and green economic growth," said Minister Kumaraswamy.

The minister emphasized the collaborative approach required for successful implementation, stating, "The clean energy transition cannot succeed in silos. This meeting reflects our commitment to working as one government. Ministries, public sector enterprises, and states are all aligned to deliver results on ground. We are confident that PM E-Drive will catalyse new industries, generate green jobs, and offer seamless electric mobility to every Indian."

The scheme aims to build a nationwide EV-ready ecosystem to enable cleaner transport and reduce India's dependency on fossil fuels. The project's success is expected to significantly reduce India's carbon emissions from transport, promote Make in India manufacturing in EV infrastructure, and establish groundwork for a net-zero mobility future.