Panaji: Goa’s push toward electric mobility is facing a reality check, with a significant gap emerging between the number of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations installed across the state and those actually functioning.
According to Union Ministry of Heavy Industries’ data tabled in Parliament, oil marketing companies (OMCs) have set up 87 Electric Vehicle Public Charging Stations (EVPCS) across Goa over the past five years. However, as of March 1, 2026, only 59 of these are operational, leaving 28 stations either non-functional or decommissioned. The figures expose a concerning trend, with nearly one-third of the state’s EV charging infrastructure out of use. This disparity raises questions regarding maintenance, planning and execution.
The rollout has also been inconsistent; Goa saw an initial push of eight stations in 2020-21 and 19 in 2021-22, followed by a dip to six in 2022-23. Installations peaked at 22 in 2023-24 before shifting to 14 in 2024-25 and 18 in the 2025-26 financial year.
While the numbers indicate steady investment, a lack of operational readiness undermines the state’s green ambitions. In comparison, larger states like Uttar Pradesh (3,284), Karnataka (2,400) and Maharashtra (2,243) have built extensive networks with significantly higher operational rates. Data suggests that even smaller states have shown a more consistent utilisation of their installed infrastructure than Goa.
Experts warn that unreliable infrastructure could discourage EV adoption, particularly in a tourism-driven economy where ease of mobility is critical. Issues such as poor maintenance, connectivity challenges and suboptimal site selection are believed to contribute to the operational gap.
While rising fuel prices and policy incentives continue to drive demand, Goa’s transition to cleaner mobility may remain stalled unless the state addresses this bottleneck between installation and functionality.
