New Delhi, July 10: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said hydrogen will play a key role in the future of India’s transport sector, as the Centre is conducting pilot projects on 10 routes to test hydrogen powered mobility solutions.
Hydrogen Fuel to Drive India’s Transport Future
Speaking at the Prawaas 5.0 and Bharat Prawaas Awards event in Gandhinagar on Thursday, Gadkari said the government is confident that hydrogen will become the fuel of the future. He added that India is making significant progress in alternative fuels and biofuels and is well positioned to lead the world through innovation and cost effective technology.
Gadkari urged vehicle manufacturers and transport operators to focus on providing safe, comfortable and affordable public transport using world class technology. He said improving passenger comfort at a reasonable cost should remain a priority for the automobile industry.
Highlighting road safety concerns, Gadkari said India records nearly five lakh road accidents and around 1.80 lakh deaths every year. He noted that about 66 percent of those killed are between 18 and 36 years of age. He added that road accidents result in an economic loss of nearly three percent of the country’s GDP.
The Union Minister said the Indian automobile industry has grown from ₹14 lakh crore when he assumed office to ₹22 lakh crore today, making it the world’s third largest automobile market. He said the sector has created around 4.5 crore jobs and contributes significant revenue to both the Centre and the states.
Gadkari also called for a major increase in bus manufacturing. He said India requires nearly three lakh buses annually, while domestic manufacturers currently produce only 70,000 to 80,000 buses. He urged the industry to triple production capacity to meet national demand.
He asked electric bus manufacturers to pass on the benefits of lower lithium ion battery prices to consumers. He also said the government is working to reduce electricity tariffs for charging buses, trucks and cars.
Referring to recent policy reforms, Gadkari said the government has reduced testing charges for bus body manufacturers by 50 percent and cut the approval process from 16 weeks to six weeks. He added that the ministry is also promoting the development of private busports.
The Minister said upcoming green express highways will reduce travel time, improve logistics efficiency and increase the profitability of the transportation sector.
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