The state plans to use existing public infrastructure to accelerate EV charging deployment and encourage wider adoption of electric vehicles.
The Maharashtra government is working on a plan to expand electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure across the state by installing charging stations at Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) depots and Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the proposal on Monday while flagging off Tata Motors’ electric trucks at the Tardeo RTO in central Mumbai.
The government is also exploring the possibility of developing EV charging stations beneath or around flyovers through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Sarnaik said flyovers managed by agencies such as the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA), Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation (MSRDC) and the Public Works Department (PWD) could be made available to MSRTC or the RTO department for this purpose.
According to the minister, the proposal represents a new approach to expanding charging infrastructure by using existing public infrastructure. He has already written to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis seeking approval for the initiative. Work on the project could accelerate once the proposal receives clearance.
Sarnaik also urged citizens to adopt EVs at a larger scale, citing the need to reduce vehicular pollution across the state.
As chairman of MSRTC, Sarnaik said the state transport corporation is targeting a complete transition of its bus fleet to electric vehicles by 2036. This timeline is ahead of the broader national and state-level ambition of achieving widespread EV adoption by 2047.
The planned charging network at depots, RTOs and potentially flyovers could support Maharashtra’s efforts to expand EV infrastructure while encouraging greater adoption of electric vehicles among both public transport operators and private users.
