NHEV Acquires Land in Tirunelveli for 3G EV Charging Hub on Kanyakumari–Madurai Route

The National Highways for Electric Vehicles (NHEV) has acquired a 4.7-acre site in Tirunelveli for the development of its next-generation 3G EV charging station.

Located strategically on the Kanyakumari–Madurai electric highway corridor, this will be the second charging station on the route and the first as part of NHEV’s South Zone rollout.

The site acquisition comes under the NHEV’s broader plan to deploy a 5,500 km 3G charging station network across India, a move fast-tracked following recommendations by the Estimate Committee of the 17th Lok Sabha and backed by Union Budget allocations for 2025–26.

“This milestone marks a pivotal moment in extending ease of doing business over the traditional licence raj in India,” said Abhijeet Sinha, Project Director, NHEV. “We evaluated land parcels pledged by citizens and private firms, along with those offered by public agencies like NHLML, to finalize sites for our 3G charging stations. This Tirunelveli location is the result of that comprehensive selection process.”

NHEV has introduced the innovative Annuity Hybrid E-Mobility (AHEM) model, a hybrid PPP framework, allowing public-private partnerships and citizen participation in developing petrol pump-sized charging hubs. Unlike traditional fuel stations, these stations can now be owned and operated by PSUs, private players, and even individuals.

The development has already seen interest from key NHEV partners such as Tata Steel Nest-In and HYDRA Charging, who have committed to begin construction surveys and electrification planning. A team of over 36 NHEV stakeholders is expected to visit the site over the coming weeks.

R. Harish Babu, MD of Maaya Autobahn, who has leased the land to NHEV, said, “Drone surveys and soil testing are underway, and construction activities will commence soon. The NHEV Director has also inspected a public toilet facility currently under development at the site.”

Once completed, the Tirunelveli station will support the region's growing demand for green mobility and serve as a key logistics hub, particularly in light of successful electric truck trials on nearby freight corridors involving Ashok Leyland and Blue Energy Motors.

The site will be part of NHEV’s fifth electric freight corridor, following the Chennai–Trichy TechTrial conducted in September 2024. Locations for additional stations along the corridor are expected to be announced this month, covering Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Goa, and Puducherry under the South Zone plan.

As per the Ministry of Finance, projects like the NHEV 3G network are targeted for completion by 2027, three years ahead of the original 2030 deadline, under the extended infrastructure roadmap that includes Bharatmala and Sagarmala initiatives.