India’s urban mass transport sector is expanding rapidly, and with it, the electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure segment, reflecting the accelerating shift towards sustainable mobility solutions. This growth is visible most prominently in metro cities and along high-traffic transport corridors. As of early 2024, India had over 12,000 public EV charging stations, a massive increase compared to previous years. Public EV charging stations have grown significantly, from just 5,151 in 2022 to 11,903 in 2023, and further to 25,202 by the end of 2023-24, reaching 26,367 in early 2024-25.
Collaboration between government entities and major oil and automotive companies such as Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited and Hyundai has further accelerated the roll-out of charging stations, especially along important urban and intercity routes. Investment is heavily concentrated in metros and Tier I cities; however, efforts are under way to extend the network to Tier II and III urban centres, which are now witnessing double-digit annual growth in new charging infrastructure. Another significant measure is the approval of a new national EV manufacturing policy in 2024. This policy requires a minimum investment of Rs 41.50 billion to promote India as a hub for EV production, and it ties future infrastructure growth to manufacturing milestones.
Proactive policy steps
The key drivers of this expansion are supportive government policies and targeted investment plans. The PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, notified in October 2024 with an allocation of Rs 109 billion, promotes electric bus adoption in cities by subsidising the procurement of e-buses and supporting the establishment of depots and on-route charging. Of this, around Rs 20 billion is dedicated to accelerating the roll-out of EV charging stations, with an aim to establish over 72,000 new chargers nationwide. These stations are being positioned strategically in cities, along highways, near airports and around industrial corridors to ensure comprehensive and convenient access for both private and public transport fleets. The scheme also aims to foster innovation through a unified EV “super app” to aid real-time station location and service integration. Additionally, another Rs 20 billion has been earmarked for supporting at least 22,100 new fast-charging stations for four-wheelers and commercial EVs.
Such schemes are further supported by the Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles (FAME) Scheme, which offers incentives for public transport electrification and the creation of charging infrastructure. A major focus of these policies is to specifically bolster mass transit and commercial EV adoption. New infrastructure is being designed to cater to the needs of e-buses, e-trucks and high-capacity fleet vehicles that require fast-charging capabilities. Fast, high-capacity DC chargers, some with up to 360 kW output, are being deployed in urban bus depots, interchanges, metro and railway stations, airports and other key transit nodes to enable rapid turnarounds for public transport fleets. The focus is on high-density urban corridors and saturating mass transit spaces where high vehicle turnover and minimal downtime are critical.
In January 2025, the Ministry of Power (MoP) released comprehensive new guidelines for both public charging stations and battery swapping infrastructure. These guidelines establish standards for safety, interoperability and the adoption of business models such as battery-as-a-service (BaaS), which is expected to bolster fleet operations and encourage further investment.
Charting state-level progress
States are now launching their own tailored incentives and policies to attract investment. State-level EV policies now offer capital subsidies, concessional tariffs, updated building codes for charging readiness and mandates for renewable energy integration, all aimed at accelerating charger deployment, especially in Tier II and III cities that saw a 96 per cent growth in public chargers during 2023-24.
Karnataka has recently surpassed Maharashtra in the total number of public EV charging stations with around 5,880 stations, propelled by an early and progressive EV policy (since 2017) and a strong focus on fleet electrification, especially for the gig economy and delivery services. In 2025, the state announced a public-private partnership plan to install 2,500 new public charging points, adding to its existing high density of stations in Bengaluru and its surrounding urban areas.
Maharashtra still remains at the fore front, with 3,746 EV charging stations as of early 2025. It further aims for 10 per cent of all new vehicle registrations to be electric by December 2025 and has set ambitious targets in its updated EV policy. Mumbai, Pune and other major cities have seen significant public and private investments.
Delhi is another front runner, with an advanced policy framework supporting rapid EV and charger adoption. The Delhi government aims to install around 18,000 public and semi-public charging points. Delhi also benefits from robust road tax and registration fee waivers, making EV adoption attractive for both individuals and fleet operators. The state has also launched the Delhi Electric Vehicle Interchanges service, featuring 76 electric buses specifically designed for last-mile connectivity, linking metro stations with residential neighbourhoods. These buses run on short routes (approximately 12 km daily).
Kerala has focused on destination charging, with the Kerala State Electricity Board aiming to install 3,000 chargers in public and private buildings. The state’s consistent push supports both urban and semi-urban charging needs, with an emphasis on integrating renewables into charging networks.
Chandigarh is now setting an urban benchmark by planning 100 public charging stations citywide, aiming to provide convenient access and support high EV penetration in a compact, planned urban environment.
Bihar is catching up with a progressive approach, aiming for a 15 per cent EV share in vehicle registrations by 2028, and has joined the PM e-Bus Sewa programme to bring 400 new electric buses to six districts, expanding both public transport electrification and supporting charging infrastructure.
State policies are also increasingly offering direct capital subsidies, concessional electricity tariffs, Goods and Services Tax (GST) and road tax waivers, and building code changes mandating charger-ready infrastructure in new developments. These combined efforts have driven a fivefold increase in India’s public EV charging stations between 2021-22 and 2024-25, with leading states attracting substantial private investment and technological innovation to fuel further growth.
The charging network for two-wheelers, including e-bikes, is growing significantly with government support under programmes such as PM E-DRIVE. As of May 2025, over 29,000 public charging stations in India serve a variety of EVs, including two- and three-wheelers, with plans to add tens of thousands more.
Many metro stations in select cities offer e-bikes and e-rickshaws for last-mile connectivity, supported by charging points. These solutions are part of the integrated urban mobility plans, encouraging seamless travel with multimodal options. Recent government guidelines promote new business models such as BaaS and battery swapping to improve convenience and reduce downtime for two-wheelers, fostering easier adoption of e-bikes for daily commuting
Looking ahead
Despite these advancements, several challenges remain. India’s charger-to-EV ratio is still well behind global standards, with an estimated one public charger for every 135-230 vehicles, compared to one per 6-20 vehicles in developed markets. The vast majority of charging stations, particularly fast chargers, are concentrated in the larger cities, with a marked urban-rural divide and slower uptake in smaller towns. Additional barriers include high set-up costs for fast-charge hubs, local grid integration issues and the lack of standardised access and payment systems.
Going forward, according to recent government and industry projections, India will need to set up over 400,000 charging stations annually to meet its EV ambitions, aiming for a cumulative 1.32 million public charging points by 2030. The expansion of fast-charging facilities near highways, urban bus depots and other high-footfall zones is being prioritised to support long-distance and mass transport electrification. While strong policy support, investment and urban-centric focus are driving rapid progress, bridging infrastructure and accessibility gaps, especially beyond top metros, will be crucial for meeting India’s urban mass transport electrification targets.
Collectively, these policies and projects represent a coordinated support by both central and state governments, in collaboration with the industry, to accelerate EV adoption and make urban mass transport electrification a reality across India’s cities and high-density travel corridors.
