Bhubaneswar: The state government is taking extensive steps to promote the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in Odisha and further strengthen the public charging infrastructure.
The department is taking continuous steps in this direction under the direction of Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena. Similarly, the Central Government has also given priority to Odisha under the ‘PM E-Drive’ scheme and has given priority to the expansion of EV charging station infrastructure in the state.
In the first phase of this scheme, the Central Government had approved the establishment of a total of 170 EV charging stations in 7 major cities of the state. Now, in the second phase, proposals have been submitted to the Central Government for the establishment of 290 new public EV charging stations in 13 more major cities of the state namely Rourkela, Talcher, Sambalpur, Paradip, Badabil, Belpahad, Berhampur, Brajrajnagar, Chhatrapur, Jharsuguda, Joda, Keonjhar and Rajgangpur along with various national and state highways.
Notably, these proposed 290 locations include 68 ‘Wayside Amenity Centers’ of the Tourism Department and key locations on various highways including the Paradip-Badabil corridor, which has the highest economic priority.
For the successful implementation of this central project, ‘Bharat Heavy Electrics Limited’ (VEL) has been engaged as the project implementing agency. Before final approval of the proposed charging stations, an expert team led by VEL General Manager J.K. Patnaik will conduct a field survey to verify the practical feasibility of these sites.
Apart from the central scheme, the state Commerce and Transport Department is setting up more than 500 additional EV charging stations on its own initiative. Out of these, 24 charging stations are already operational in the capital Bhubaneswar alone. For the seamless convenience of EV users, the government is setting up these charging points at all important locations in the state, Atal Bus Terminals and Truck Terminals.
This integrated infrastructure expansion will eliminate the charging concerns of EV drivers and accelerate a sustainable green transport system. In addition, financial incentives (subsidies) are being provided to consumers to encourage the purchase of electric vehicles under the ‘Electric Vehicle Policy’.
