EV charging stations along the highways in Andhra Pradesh.. Green signal for 135 centers in the first phase

The state government has decided to establish electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along national highways to promote the use of electric vehicles. Under the PM e-Drive scheme, the government has proposed setting up a total of 444 charging stations in phases across the state.

Officials identified vacant lands available with various government departments, public sector organisations, municipal corporations, GENCO, and DISCOMs. The proposal was sent to the central government in the first week of February. A central team later inspected nearly 200 locations and approved 135 sites for the first phase.

Around 600 charging units will be installed at these centres. Each station will provide charging facilities for cars, two-wheelers, auto-rickshaws, and heavy vehicles. Officials from the New and Renewable Energy Development Corporation (NEDCAP) said tenders will be invited in April and the works will be assigned to contractors. The government aims to make these stations operational by July or August.

The estimated cost for setting up one charging station is around ₹50 lakh. Out of this, 80 percent will be funded by the central government, while the remaining 20 percent will be provided by the state through DISCOMs. Operators will be selected through a tender process to handle supply, installation, and operation for five years. A major share of the revenue generated from operations will go to the DISCOMs, which will pay a portion to the operators as per the agreement.

In the second phase, the focus will be on establishing charging stations in urban areas. Suitable locations have been identified in cities such as Visakhapatnam, Kakinada, Eluru, Vijayawada, Guntur, and Tirupati, and proposals have already been sent to the centre.

According to official estimates, about 6,000 electric cars, 4,000 auto-rickshaws, and 40,000 electric two-wheelers are being added to the roads in the state every year. Authorities expect a significant increase in EV usage over the next one and a half years and are expanding the charging infrastructure accordingly.