Minister Nitin Gadkari urges automakers to accelerate transition towards biofuels for environmental and economic benefits.
NEW DELHI (Economy India): Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari held a review meeting with representatives from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) at Transport Bhavan to assess the automobile industry’s preparedness for the use of ethanol and flex-fuel technologies.
During the meeting, Gadkari emphasized the importance of shifting from fossil fuels to biofuels and reviewed the industry’s progress towards launching ethanol-powered vehicles in the coming months.
A Push Towards Sustainability and Self-Reliance
The minister highlighted several benefits of biofuels, stating, “Switching to ethanol and flex fuels will make India more self-reliant by reducing fossil fuel imports, lowering pollution, and offering affordable fuel options to consumers.” Gadkari also emphasized that farmers would benefit as ethanol production increases demand for agricultural produce.
Learning from Global Examples
Gadkari urged automakers to explore ways to enhance public acceptance of biofuels, citing Brazil’s success in integrating flex-fuel technology into its transportation system. “We must learn from countries like Brazil and work towards making biofuels mainstream in India’s transportation sector,” he said.
Government’s Support and Industry’s Responsibility
The minister stressed that flex-fuel vehicles will play a crucial role in cutting down India’s annual fossil fuel import bill. He called on the automobile industry to proactively drive this transition, saying, “The time to act is now. The shift to biofuels will benefit the environment, the economy, and farmers.”
Gadkari’s vision aligns with the government’s goal to boost biofuel adoption, including through the National Biofuel Policy, which encourages the production and use of ethanol blends in petrol.
Stakeholder Participation
The meeting was attended by senior officials from the ministry, SIAM members, and Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways Harsh Malhotra. The industry representatives discussed their strategies for rolling out ethanol-fueled vehicles and the challenges in gaining consumer confidence.
The review highlighted the government’s strong intent to transition towards cleaner, sustainable fuels. The ministry is expected to follow up with further policy measures to support automakers in scaling up the production of flex-fuel vehicles. With ethanol-powered vehicles on the horizon, the future of India’s transportation sector seems poised for significant change.
(Economy India)
