Central nod for grant for establishing EV chargers in Kerala

The Centre has approved a grant of ₹63.12 crore for establishing 335 electric vehicle (EV) chargers in Kerala under the PM Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement (PM E-DRIVE) scheme,.

The grant has been approved by the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries on the basis of proposals filed by the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB), which is the State-level nodal agency for the PM E-DRIVE scheme.

The locations where the EV chargers will be installed include KSEB offices and facilities, Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) bus stations, Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, the Kariavattom and Palayam campuses of the University of Kerala, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd offices, hotels run by the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation, railway stations and various public sector units.

The Union government had approved the PM E-DRIVE Scheme with an outlay of ₹10,900 crore on September 29, 2024, as a fund-limited scheme. It includes an outlay of ₹2000 crore for EV Public Charging Stations (EVPCS). The operational guidelines for the EVPCS under PM E-DRIVE were released a year later.

The KSEB was appointed nodal agency for Kerala in October 2025. KSEB had submitted its proposal on March 17, 2025.

As per Scheme guidelines, in cases where the nodal agency is itself installing and commissioning EVPCS, the first tranche (70%) of the eligible subsidy would be released in advance upon request to facilitate faster adoption. The nodal agency is also required to regularly update the progress of implementation on the online portal and ensure that operational data for installed EVPCS (such

as charger location, slot availability, pricing, and digital payment options) are shared with the ‘National Unified Hub’ being developed by MHI.