PM e Drive Scheme to Set Up 135 EV Charging Stations Across Andhra Pradesh
- PM e Drive scheme will set up 135 EV charging stations in Andhra Pradesh.
- PM e Drive charging stations will provide about 600 EV charging units.
- PM e Drive plan aims to support rising electric vehicle usage in the state.
Electric vehicle users in Andhra Pradesh are likely to benefit from a new infrastructure initiative as the state government prepares to establish EV charging stations under the PM e Drive scheme. The move is aimed at supporting the increasing adoption of electric vehicles across the state.
According to officials the project will initially include the installation of EV charging stations at 135 locations across Andhra Pradesh. Around 600 charging units are expected to be made available through these stations, allowing electric vehicle owners to charge their vehicles conveniently.
The initiative is being implemented under the PM e Drive programme introduced by the central government to expand charging infrastructure across the country. The scheme focuses on creating reliable charging networks particularly along highways and major routes.
State authorities had earlier proposed the establishment of about 444 charging stations along national highways in Andhra Pradesh. After reviewing the proposal central teams inspected nearly 200 locations and approved 135 sites for the first phase of development.
Each charging station will provide facilities for multiple types of electric vehicles including two wheelers cars and larger vehicles. Officials say tenders will be issued in April to select contractors responsible for setting up and operating the stations.
The estimated cost of establishing one charging station is around fifty lakh rupees. Under the funding model the central government will bear about eighty percent of the cost while the remaining twenty percent will be covered by state electricity distribution companies.
Contractors selected through the tender process will manage and operate the charging stations for a period of five years.
The government is also planning a second phase of expansion which will include around one hundred additional charging stations in major cities. Locations such as Visakhapatnam Kakinada Eluru Vijayawada Guntur and Tirupati are being considered for the next stage of the project.
Officials believe the PM e Drive charging infrastructure will make electric vehicle travel easier and encourage more people to adopt environmentally friendly transportation in Andhra Pradesh.
