Dikhyaa Mohanty 
Under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-Drive) initiative, the Odisha government has requested clearance from the Center for the construction of 190 EV charging stations in six major cities, according to authorities on Wednesday. The Ministry of Heavy Industries has received the proposal, which was filed by the State Transport Authority (STA) under the Commerce and Transport Department. The proposal states that 190 places in Angul, Balasore, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Kalinganagar, and Puri would have charging infrastructure.
A review meeting in this regard was held in Bhubaneswar in the presence of Transport Secretary N.B.S. Rajput, Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur and other senior officials. The PM E-Drive scheme, notified in September 2024 with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore, allocates ₹2,000 crore for the development of Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS). The initiative aims to strengthen EV infrastructure by supporting both charging equipment and associated upstream systems, with a focus on addressing range anxiety and promoting EV adoption across the country.
High-ranking officials attended a review meeting in Bhubaneswar, including Transport Commissioner Amitabh Thakur and Transport Secretary N.B.S. Rajput. The PM E-Drive initiative, which was launched in September 2024 with an investment of ₹10,900 crore, would provide ₹2,000 crore for the building of Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS). The initiative aims to increase EV infrastructure by supporting both charging equipment and associated upstream systems, with a focus on eradicating range anxiety and promoting EV adoption across the country.
