Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. has made a scathing statement on the future of mobility in India, saying that petrol and diesel vehicles have no long-term future. Speaking at an industry event recently, the minister urged the auto industry to accelerate its shift towards cleaner and alternative fuel technologies.Gadkari said fossil fuels pose “serious problems” for the country, both in terms of rising import costs and environmental impact. He emphasized that India should move towards more sustainable solutions such as biofuels, CNG, LNG and electric powertrains. According to him, this transfer will also play a key role in strengthening the public transport system across the country.Highlighting the ongoing efforts, the minister revealed that pilot projects for hydrogen-powered mobility are already underway. He said that hydrogen trucks and buses are currently being tested on 10 routes with major manufacturers like Tata Motors, Volvo, Ashok Leyland and Mahindra & Mahindra participating in the trials. He called hydrogen “the fuel of the future,” signaling the government’s long-term focus on the technology.
The minister also highlighted the importance of ethanol as an alternative fuel, pointing out that India has the potential to produce ethanol from multiple feedstocks. He said the industry is already working on flex-fuel engines, while vehicles across the country continue to run on E20 fuel.Along with stressing on clean mobility, Gadkari expressed concern about safety standards in public transport. He announced that registration of buses will now require uploading of details on the Wuhan portal with physical and video approvals instead of the earlier self-certification system. He urged the manufacturers to prioritize quality, safety and passenger comfort instead of focusing only on price.The minister also highlighted the growing demand in the bus segment. India currently manufactures around 70,000 buses annually, but the demand for electric buses alone is expected to touch 1.5 lakh units in the next three years.
