PATNA, Aug. 19 -- A BHEL team in coordination with the Union ministry of heavy industries is conducting site surveys for setting up 129 proposed EV charging stations across Bihar which will assess site suitability, electrical connectivity, land availability, accessibility and other technical requirements. The initiative is part of a larger plan to build a wide-reaching EV charging network in Bihar, aligned with the Prime Minister's target of net-zero emissions by 2070. It falls under the PM E-DRIVE (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) scheme, notified in September 2024 with a budget of Rs.10,900 crore, of which Rs.2,000 crore has been earmarked for public charging station development. Suitable locations are being identified and surveyed in a phased manner, with emphasis on major highways and urban areas to ensure EV users have convenient charging access both during long-distance travel and within cities. In first phase, 72 locations across Patna, Gaya, Vaishali, Purnia, Nalanda and Chhapra will be surveyed, as per the transport department. Bihar had submitted a proposal to MHI for setting up EV charging infrastructure at 129 locations across 23 cities. BHEL has been appointed as the project implementation agency for establishing these EV charging stations, the statement said, quoting MHI director Amarendra Kishore Singh. Bihar's transport secretary Raj Kumar said building a strong charging network to promote electric mobility remains a priority for Bihar....