India approves Rs 40.50 crore grant for 170 charging sites across six Odisha cities
By Eve
The Centre has approved Rs 40.50 crore under the PM E-DRIVE scheme to deploy 170 public charging sites with 688 chargers and four battery swapping stations across Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri, Angul, Jajpur and Balasore. The State Transport Authority will act as nodal agency, installing infrastructure at government offices, major roads, parking areas, railway stations, hospitals, educational institutions and police stations. Odisha recorded a 17 per cent EV market share in June, the highest among Indian states.
Why it matters: The grant opens a 170 site tender pipeline in six Odisha cities, with funding covering upstream electrical works and charging equipment. Operators must integrate with the national unified hub and meet operational standards set by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.