BESCOM to Set Up 40 EV Charging Stations in Karnataka

• BESCOM is installing charging stations along major highways and toll points to create an EV corridor in Karnataka
• Karnataka’s EV penetration is over 11%, supported by India’s first solar-powered EV hub and the ‘EV Mithra’ app
• Charging stations will be placed on highways and at key tourist spots, temples, and resorts to support EV users

To increase the convenience of long-distance EV travel, the Karnataka Energy Department is working with the state-owned BESCOM to install charging stations along major highways.

 The effort will be focused on the Bengaluru-Belagavi National Highway (NH-48) and 40 toll points located throughout the state to strengthen the network of EV corridors.

BESCOM is leading the installation of EV charging stations along Karnataka highways, supporting the growth of electric vehicles and promoting green mobility as part of India’s broader push for sustainable transport and enhanced EV infrastructure.

BESCOM’s Managing Director, Shivashankar N, expressed that their commitment to ease electric mobility for long-distance travel.

Shivashankar stated, “With the installation of EV charging stations along highways, at tourist destinations, and key public locations, we are ensuring that range anxiety becomes a thing of the past. This initiative is not just about convenience. It is about accelerating the state's transition to clean energy, promoting sustainable tourism, and building a green transport ecosystem for the future”.

This effort is directed at bridging connectivity gaps between important cities and economic centers and creating the potential for EV travel beyond the urban environments. This travel network is pivotal to help support Karnataka's rapidly growing electric mobility ecosystem.

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“Karnataka already leads the country in public charging infrastructure with 5,960 operational EV charging stations, the highest among all Indian states”, another Bescom official added.

In recent years, there has been considerable progress in e-mobility in the state. During Karnataka's Global Investor Meet in 2022, BESCOM unveiled the first solar-powered EV hub in India next to Kempegowda International Airport.

 They have also launched an app called ‘EV Mithra’ to enable users to locate the charging stations throughout Karnataka. The EV penetration in Karnataka is now higher than the national average, with an EV penetration rate above 11%, compared to 9% across the rest of the country.

The new initiative includes 30 charging stations on state highways and 20 charging stations on national highways, which are still pending approval from the Karnataka Road Development Corporation and the NHAI.

 The Energy Department is also looking to install chargers at tourist destinations and significant temples, which will require coordination with the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation and the Religious Endowment Department.

Once completed, it will ensure that there is an uninterrupted EV charging corridor along these routes that will connect the industrial centers of the state to tourist locations and the so-called border trade routes.