New Delhi: In a major push for clean transportation, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Monday that the prices of electric vehicles (EVs) in India are expected to become comparable to their petrol-powered counterparts within the next four to six months, reports Free Press Journal.
Speaking at an industry summit, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways highlighted the urgent need for this shift. He pointed to India’s massive annual fuel import bill of ₹22 lakh crore, which he described as a significant economic strain and an environmental problem.
Gadkari also laid out an ambitious goal for the Indian automobile sector, aiming for it to become the world’s largest within the next five years. He shared that the industry has already grown from ₹14 lakh crore to ₹22 lakh crore since he took office, placing India third globally, behind the United States and China.
The minister highlighted the crucial role of farmers in the nation’s energy transition. He noted that farmers have earned an additional ₹45,000 crore by producing ethanol from corn, which helps reduce the reliance on traditional fossil fuels.
Looking beyond electricity, Gadkari championed hydrogen as the “fuel of the future.” He detailed the launch of India’s first “hydrogen highways” project, which involves setting up hydrogen refuelling stations along key national highway routes to support long-haul, hydrogen-powered freight.
“A budget of ₹500 crore has been approved for these trials, which will involve 37 vehicles running on ten different routes,” Gadkari stated. These efforts will be supported by the establishment of nine hydrogen refuelling stations, creating the foundation for long-distance, clean transportation.
The minister concluded by emphasizing the critical need for India to reduce its dependence on imported crude oil, which currently meets 87% of the country’s demand at an enormous annual cost.
