New Delhi (NVI): Urging industry players to exploit a number of opportunities coming up with 22 express highway projects, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that the government plans to allot land for 2,000 fueling stations on the Delhi Mumbai express highway.
While hinting towards opportunities in alternative fuel, electric highway and charging stations that the upcoming express highways hold, the union minister said that priority would be given to LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) stations.
Gadkari, also the Union Minister for MSME, was speaking at ‘Conference on Future Fuels for Transportation’, organised by FICCI in Delhi today. He said LNG is the fuel for future while adding that “the cost economics compared with diesel works to a saving of at least 50-60 per cent.”
Earlier this week, the Union minister had said that the cost of the proposed highway from Delhi to Mumbai that is under work, is Rs 1,03,000 crore and already 60 per cent of the contracts have been awarded and the target is to complete this highway before January 26, 2024.
As part of the Climate Change resolutions, the government has been pushing for clean fuel and zero emissions. In line with the government’s initiative, Nitin Gadkari has been pitching for use of alternative fuels.
Highlighting another huge opportunity for private players to invest in rolling stocks, Gadkari said broad gauge metro, which the Indian Railways has approved, can connecting nearby cities like Amritsar to Delhi and districts in backward areas.
Rolling stock in the rail transport industry refers to railway vehicles, including both powered and unpowered vehicles, for example, locomotives, railroad cars, coaches, private railroad cars and wagons.
“With less than Rs 5 crore (per km) cost you can make this broad gauge metro everywhere in India using the existing network of broad gauge. We can at least start 500-600 projects in the country,” he said, adding the first project will be in Nagpur.
The minister further said the government wants to convert the proposed 22 Express Highways, seven of which are under construction, and the existing NHAI network into electric highways, and sought investors and appropriate technology for it.
He also said that the country can produce bio aviation fuel in tribal and rural areas and reduce the import burden that currently is Rs 40,000 crore.
Also present on the occasion, FICCI President Dr Sangita Reddy said that there are growing concerns around the rising oil imports and carbon emissions and that alternative fuels must be used for sustainable development.
Dr OP Agarwal, Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Future Mobility and CEO, WRI India, said that there is a huge disruption in the transportation sector. Considering the energy security risk facing India, there is an urgent need for alternative fuels, he said.
Palash Roy Chowdhury, Co-Chairman, FICCI Task Force on Future Mobility and CMD, SmartE, said, “If India can put together a world-class shared electric mobility ecosystem in the coming years, we can address both issues of vehicular traffic as well as vehicular pollution.”
The conference was attended by organisations operating in alternative fuel and electric vehicle space and was addressed by senior officials from Maruti, JBM, GAIL Gas, SmartE, Praj, Indian Oil, Indian Institute of Petrology and IIT, Delhi.
