Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday announced that Maharashtra has emerged as the leading state in India with the highest number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along national highways. This information was revealed in the latest data presented in the Rajya Sabha.
According to the data, a total of 5293 EV charging stations have been established along national highways across various states. Maharashtra tops the list with 750 EV charging stations, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 577, and Tamil Nadu with 369.
This initiative is part of a broader effort by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, which has set up 4729 of these stations at an expenditure of Rs. 178 crore. Additionally, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has set a target of establishing 5833 EV charging stations along highways through three Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs), with a capital subsidy of Rs. 800 crore provided towards the establishment of a total of 7432 EV charging stations.
Maharashtra also leads in the number of targeted charging stations to be established, with 659 stations planned, highlighting the state’s significant role in promoting electric mobility infrastructure.
The data indicates that the government has not planned to set up any power stations alongside the national highways specifically for these EV charging stations. However, the extensive network of charging points is expected to significantly boost the adoption of electric vehicles in the country by providing necessary infrastructure support.
Here is a summary of the number of EV charging stations in various states as per the data:
- Andhra Pradesh: 249 existing, 319 planned
- Assam: 147 existing, 59 planned
- Bihar: 96 existing, 139 planned
- Gujarat: 259 existing, 420 planned
- Haryana: 284 existing, 261 planned
- Karnataka: 300 existing, 471 planned
- Kerala: 138 existing, 189 planned
- Madhya Pradesh: 231 existing, 231 planned
- Maharashtra: 750 existing, 659 planned
- Punjab: 195 existing, 272 planned
- Rajasthan: 482 existing, 439 planned
- Tamil Nadu: 369 existing, 649 planned
- Telangana: 221 existing, 244 planned
- Uttar Pradesh: 577 existing, 525 planned
- West Bengal: 208 existing, 321 planned
The establishment of these EV charging stations is a critical step towards promoting sustainable transportation and reducing the carbon footprint on India’s roads.