The Maharashtra government has approved the establishment of eight electric vehicle (EV) charging stations along the Pune-Mumbai Expressway, marking a significant step towards promoting EV adoption within the state. The Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) will oversee the project, initiating a survey to identify optimal locations for the charging stations. Each station is designed to accommodate the simultaneous charging of multiple EVs. This initiative is fueled by the growing EV market in Maharashtra, which has over 5.58 lakh registered EVs, as per data from the Vahan portal of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The expressway, with a daily traffic volume of approximately 1.4 lakh vehicles, currently lacks sufficient charging infrastructure, making this project a crucial development. The state government is also offering toll exemptions for EVs on major intercity routes, including the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Samruddhi Mahamarg, and Atal Setu, as part of its strategy to foster eco-friendly transport and work towards carbon-neutral highways. Despite these efforts, concerns persist regarding the functionality of existing charging points.
