Karnataka has emerged as one of the biggest beneficiaries of India’s electric mobility push, with the Centre approving proposals for the installation of 1,243 EV chargers in the state at an investment of ₹123.26 crore.
Announcing the development in Bengaluru, Union Heavy Industries Minister H. D. Kumaraswamy said the move strengthens Karnataka’s position as a frontrunner in India’s transition towards clean and sustainable mobility.
Addressing the Conference on Enabling Nationwide EV Charging Infrastructure under the PM E-DRIVE Scheme, Kumaraswamy said Bengaluru has already emerged as one of the country’s leading EV charging hubs and called upon other states to accelerate investments in charging infrastructure.
₹503-crore EV charging push across states
The minister said proposals worth ₹503.86 crore have so far been approved for the installation of 4,874 EV chargers across multiple states and Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs).
Apart from Karnataka, approvals have been granted for projects in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
Major oil-sector CPSEs including Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited are also part of the nationwide charging infrastructure rollout.
EV ecosystem gains momentum
Kumaraswamy highlighted the strategic importance of India’s automotive sector, noting that it contributes over 7% to the country’s GDP, accounts for nearly half of manufacturing GDP and supports around 30 million livelihoods.
He said the government is simultaneously strengthening domestic manufacturing capabilities and future mobility technologies through multiple incentive programmes.
Among the major initiatives are the ₹18,100-crore PLI ACC Scheme for battery cell manufacturing, the ₹25,938-crore PLI Auto Scheme promoting cleaner vehicles including EVs and hydrogen-powered vehicles, and the recently launched ₹7,280-crore REPM Scheme focused on rare earth magnet manufacturing.
PM E-DRIVE scheme at the core
Describing the PM E-DRIVE Scheme as a key pillar of India’s clean mobility transition, Kumaraswamy said the ₹10,900-crore programme is designed to accelerate adoption of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses and trucks while simultaneously creating a robust charging network nationwide. Out of the total scheme outlay, ₹2,000 crore has been earmarked specifically for public EV charging infrastructure.
The minister also acknowledged the contribution of oil marketing companies under the earlier FAME-II scheme. With support of ₹873.5 crore from the Ministry of Heavy Industries, OMCs have already installed 8,932 EV chargers across India, including 721 chargers in Karnataka alone.
Private players step up
Kumaraswamy also praised private sector participation in building India’s EV ecosystem, highlighting the role of companies such as Tata Power, ChargeZone and Mahindra & Mahindra in expanding charging infrastructure and driving innovation in the sector.
The latest approvals come at a time when India is rapidly scaling up its EV ecosystem through coordinated investments in charging networks, battery manufacturing and clean mobility technologies, positioning the country for accelerated electric vehicle adoption in the coming years