Centre clears 382 EV charging sites in Delhi, first tender to cover up to 180 locations

The Ministry of Heavy Industries has approved 382 sites for setting up electric vehicle charging infrastructure across Delhi, with the city government preparing to float a tender for the first tranche of 160 to 180 locations, Power Minister Ashish Sood said on Sunday.

The Delhi government’s Revenue Department and Delhi Transport Corporation had initially identified 456 potential locations for charging infrastructure. Of these, 382 received approval from the Union Ministry of Heavy Industries and have subsequently undergone a detailed site-level reassessment.

Sites reassessed

Under the Delhi EV Policy, notified on June 30, the government reassessed all 382 approved sites over the past three months to determine how charging infrastructure should be deployed for different categories of vehicles.

Instead of following a uniform model for every location, the sites have been categorised according to the requirements of electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers.

The exercise examined factors including electricity availability, grid feasibility and the type of charging infrastructure required at individual locations.

The government has onboarded KPMG as the Project Management Unit for the programme, and the comprehensive reassessment of the sites has now been completed.

First tender soon

With the assessment completed, the government is preparing to float a tender covering 160 to 180 sites considered to have a high level of readiness for deployment.

These locations will constitute the first tranche of the broader 382-site charging infrastructure programme.

The phased approach is intended to prioritise sites where charging facilities can be established more quickly based on factors such as power availability and grid connectivity.

The remaining approved locations are expected to be taken up progressively as Delhi expands its public charging network.

2027 deadline approaches

The charging infrastructure programme is being aligned with statutory deadlines laid down under the Delhi EV Policy 2026.

Delhi is scheduled to move to 100% electric registrations for three-wheelers and N1 light commercial vehicles from January 1, 2027. The requirement will subsequently be extended to two-wheelers from April 1, 2028.

The government is consequently seeking to ensure that adequate charging infrastructure is available before the new registration requirements take effect.

A segment-specific approach is particularly significant because charging requirements differ considerably across vehicle categories. Two-wheelers generally require lower-capacity charging points, while commercial vehicles and larger passenger vehicles can require higher-capacity infrastructure and different charging patterns.

Focus beyond incentives

Sood said the success of Delhi’s transition to electric mobility should not be measured merely through the number of financial incentives provided to consumers.

Instead, he said, the long-term test would be whether the Capital had created sufficient infrastructure to support large-scale adoption of electric vehicles.

“By prioritising power availability, grid feasibility and segment-specific charging nodes, we are ensuring that when citizens transition to electric two-wheelers, three-wheelers and commercial vehicles, they are backed by world-class infrastructure across the capital,” Sood said.

The approach is aimed at addressing one of the major practical concerns surrounding EV adoption — the availability of reliable and conveniently located charging facilities.

Tackling range anxiety

The minister said the government had spent the previous quarter laying the foundation for infrastructure capable of supporting the deadlines under the EV policy.

“Delhi’s primary focus over the last quarter has been to lay a sustainable, future-ready infrastructure foundation that directly aligns with the bold deadlines set under the Delhi EV Policy 2026,” Sood said.

He argued that financial incentives alone could not deliver a sustained transition to electric mobility.

“A true EV revolution cannot rely solely on short-term financial payouts; it requires robust, reliable and segment-specific charging infrastructure that eliminates range anxiety for everyday citizens,” he added.

Network set to expand

The approval of 382 locations gives the Delhi government a substantial pipeline of sites as it prepares for a sharp increase in electric vehicle adoption over the next two years.

The immediate focus will be on tendering the 160 to 180 high-readiness sites and ensuring that the charging network develops in step with the registration mandates.

The broader challenge will be to translate the approved locations into functioning charging stations with adequate electricity supply, dependable equipment and sufficient capacity for different categories of vehicles. With the first mandatory transition scheduled for January 2027, the pace of infrastructure deployment over the coming months will be crucial.