OMCs get Rs. 800 crore to set up over 7,000 fast-charging stations.

In a push for green mobility, the Centre recently sanctioned Rs. 800 crore under Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of (Hybrid &) Electric Vehicles (FAME II) to three public sector oil-marketing companies (OMCs) for setting up 7,432 public fast-charging stations across the country.

In the first instalment, the Ministry of Heavy Industries has released 70 per cent (Rs. 560 crore) of the dedicated Rs. 800 crore to Indian Oil Corporation (IndianOil), Bharat Petroleum Corporation (BPCL), and Hindustan Petroleum Corporation (HPCL) for installation and commissioning of upstream infrastructure and charging equipment of electric vehicle (EV) public charging stations at respective retail outlets.

Union Minister for Heavy Industries Mahendra Nath Pandey, while calling the move India’s commitment towards a green and clean future, said that with the addition of 7,432 public fast-charging stations, the country’s total installed charging capacity will cross the 14,000 mark.

“These fast-charging stations will be set up in all the metros, million-plus cities, smart cities notified by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, cities of hilly states, highways and expressways across the country,” said Pandey.

The installation is expected to be completed by March 2024.

"Our ministry, along with Ministries of Petroleum, Power, and Highways are jointly working towards implementation of FAME India. We are working towards setting up charging stations at about 22,000 petrol pumps across the country,” said Pandey.

According to the Ministry of Power’s guidelines, there must be at least one charging station every 25 kilometre (km) on both sides of a highway and at least one charging station for long-range and heavy-duty EVs every 100 km on both sides of a highway.

For cities, at least one charging station will be set up in a grid of 3x3 km, he said.

BS