Nitin Gadkari: Indian automobile manufacturers should focus on alternate fuel vehicles

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has asked car manufacturers in India to focus on the development of alternate fuel vehicles to compensate for the growing crude oil import which has been a big economic challenge for the country. Gadkari has also mentioned that the car makers will have all the support from the Indian government for the same. This announcement came at the NuGen Mobility Summit 2019 where Garkari mentioned, "I am giving you the confidence from the government that we are all supporter of this sector...you have lot of apprehensions about the future policy but the government is keenly interested to support and encourage you for new development (alternative fuel vehicles). ....go ahead with old manufacturing but also encourage alternative fuel,"

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

The intention behind this announcement is to find an import substitute that will be free of pollution and be economically feasible to manufacture at the same time, Gadkari stated that the Cabinet Secretary and the Principal Adviser have been specifically asked to work in this direction and also find different measures of producing methanol from coal gasification. Gadkari while mentioning of the importance of the automobile sector in terms of revenue and its potential to create employment, stated, "The problem which is related to our economy is that our import bill is 20 per cent of our capital cost...it is a big economic challenge for the country. This is the time we have to find out some solution,"

Giving examples of car manufacturers like Toyota and Hyundai who offer flexi-fuel engine options in Brazil, the Union Minister has urged car manufacturers to work in the same direction to offer different powertrain choices. He also said that Indian is expected to become the third largest economy in the world. The other issue, in addition to the crude oil imports, are the surplus of  sugar, rice and wheat, wherein he wants a diversification of agriculture and forests to contribute in the production of alternative fuel and energy.

Gadkari also mentioned of the 22 new express highways that are under construction which also includes the 10,000 crore Dwarka express  highway. He added, "Meerut Express Highway being constructed at a cost of Rs 9,000 crore is going to be complete before March...My ministry is spending Rs 50,000 crore for road construction around Delhi," The other update that came from the Union Minister was that the scrappage policy of vehicles in India is in final stages and also India is set to begin the biggest automobile hub with the pool of technology and accessible labour.