Bhubaneswar: Odisha is gearing up for a green revolution on its roads, with the government announcing an ambitious plan to convert official vehicles and public transport fleets into electric vehicles (EVs) in a phased manner.

Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena set the tone by declaring he would personally switch to an EV from Thursday, underscoring that austerity and sustainability must begin at the individual level.

The initiative will see nearly 50 percent of vehicles in every government department gradually replaced with EVs. The Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) fleet is also slated for a complete transformation.

To support the transition, the state has planned 100 EV charging stations, with responsibility assigned to a power distribution agency. Work on 30 stations is already complete, including 15 in Bhubaneswar. The long-term target is 192 charging stations, with preliminary talks held with private operators to ensure robust infrastructure.

Highlighting both environmental and economic benefits, Jena said EV adoption would cut fuel costs and reduce pollution. He noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi are keen to promote EV usage, pointing out that the CM has already halved his convoy size. "From today, I will travel in an EV and use only one vehicle," Jena affirmed, pledging that the government will practise what it preaches.