Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in a conversation with NDTV discussed the issue of pollution in India, adding that the government is pushing on the promotion of the use of non-polluting sources for personal and public transportation.
Discussing a pilot project in Nagpur aimed at reducing pollution, Gadkari mentioned that it will include a 132-seater bus with airplane-like seating and a “bus hostess”. This bus will operate on non-polluting energy sources and will be more affordable than regular diesel buses. He added that the government aims to make India a net energy exporter instead of an importer.
India and pollution
Gadkari said that pollution poses a crucial problem for India, especially for Delhi. “We need import-substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free and indigenous transport solutions. We have electric vehicles… Now, Indian Oil is installing 300 ethanol pumps and automobile companies are bringing in flex vehicles. So, instead of filling petrol at ₹ 120 a litre, it is better to use ethanol at ₹ 60 per litre, with the vehicle running 60% on electricity and 40% on ethanol. This will also reduce pollution,” he added.
“The most important problem in the country today is pollution – air, water and sound – especially for Delhi. We need import-substitute, cost-effective, pollution-free and indigenous transport solutions. We have electric vehicles… Now, Indian Oil is installing 300 ethanol pumps and automobile companies are bringing in flex vehicles. So, instead of filling petrol at ₹ 120 a litre, it is better to use ethanol at ₹ 60 per litre, with the vehicle running 60% on electricity and 40% on ethanol. This will also reduce pollution,” the minister said in Hindi.
The government is also stressing on reducing the cost of public transportation.
In a significant announcement, the highways minister revealed that GPS-based tolling, a project the government has been developing for some time, will be implemented on 5,000 kilometers of road within the next three months.