Page 6 - Nitin Gadkari

Fall in lithium battery prices will boost EV sector, says Nitin Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said reduction in the cost of lithium batteries would significantly lower the price of electric vehicles (EVs), making them more affordable for consumers. Pollution is India's biggest challenge and the transport sector is a major contributor, Gadkari on Monday said, stressing the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources. The Union minister for road transport and highways asserted the ongoing advancements in battery technology were key to India's transition to sustainable transport. He said India's dependence on fossil fuels is both an economic burden, as Rs 22 lakh crore is spent annually on fuel imports, and an environmental hazard, making clean energy adoption crucial for the nation's progress. Speaking at the launch of an eco-friendly electric cycle in Thane, the minister said cycling needs to be promoted as a sustainable urban transport option in view of increasing urbanisation. The rapid growth of India's ...

Pollution biggest challenge, transport sector key contributor: Gadkari

Pollution is India's biggest challenge and the transport sector is a major contributor, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday, stressing the urgent need to transition from fossil fuels to alternative energy sources. He said India's dependence on fossil fuels is both an economic burden as Rs 22 lakh crore is spent annually on fuel imports and an environmental hazard, making clean energy adoption crucial for the nation's progress. Speaking at the launch of an eco-friendly electric cycle in Thane, the Road Transport & Highways Minister said cycling needs to be promoted as a sustainable urban transport option in view of increasing urbanisation. Gadkari said the rapid growth of India's automobile sector has surpassed Japan to become the third-largest globally since 2014. He said by 2030, India will be the world leader in electric vehicle (EV) production, significantly impacting the global auto market. He credited the sharp decline in lithium-ion battery prices (now at USD 100 per

Nitin Gadkari announces ₹10 trillion plan to widen 25,000 km of highways

The government is planning to upgrade 25,000 km of highways to four lanes at ₹10 trillion, expand 16,000 km to six lanes for ₹6 trillion; it aims to cut road accidents by 50 per cent by 2030

Indian roads will surpass US quality within two years: Nitin Gadkari

Nitin Gadkari expressed his optimism about India's future in electric vehicle (EV) adoption, predicting that the country will surpass the US in both EV adoption and manufacturing within next 5 years

Parliamentary standing committee raps MoRTH over quality of highways

Alleges inadequate enforcement against errant contractors

India loses 3% of GDP annually due to road accidents: Nitin Gadkari

India is losing 3 per cent of its GDP due to around 5 lakh road accidents annually in the country, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday. The Minister for Road, Transport and Highways made the remarks while addressing AMCHAM's Technology Interventions For Road Safety: US-India Partnership in the national capital. The most important problem for the country is road accidents, Gadkari said, noting that every year India sees 4,80,000 accidents, which lead to 1,88,000 deaths of people aged between 18 and 45 years. The minister raised concerns that 10,000 deaths are of children below 18 years. Gadakri said, "It is one of the major public health issue and the most important thing is also, we are losing 3 per cent of GDP because of road accidents." The Union minister cited poor detailed project reports (DPRs) as one of the key reasons for accidents. "DPR consultants are the main culprits who are responsible for the road accidents. (They prepare DPRs) sometimes because of cost sav

Prices of EVs to be same as petrol cars in 6 months, says Nitin Gadkari

Prices of electric vehicles (EVs) will be equal to those of petrol vehicles in the country within six months, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. Addressing the 32nd Convergence India and 10th Smart Cities India Expo, Gadkari further said the construction work of the 212-km Delhi-Dehradun access-controlled expressway will be complete in the next three months. "Within six months, the cost of electric vehicles will be equivalent to the cost of petrol vehicles," he said. The minister said the government's policy is import substitute, cost-effectiveness, pollution-free and indigenous production. To make India the third-largest economy, the country needs to improve its infrastructure sector, the Union minister said. "By making good roads, we can reduce our logistics cost," he added. Gadkari asserted that the future of the country's economy is very good and the government is committed towards smart cities and smart transport. "We are working on

Panel on satellite toll system urges deliberation over security, privacy

Union Road Transport and Highways minister Nitin Gadkari in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha said it is proposed to proceed with corridor/stretch-based projects

Nagpur violence: Residents share accounts of attacks on homes and vehicles

Aurangzeb row: Violence broke out in Nagpur on Monday night after rumours spread that a holy book was desecrated during a protest

Will kick anyone who talks about caste: Union minister Nitin Gadkari

In strong remarks against caste-based politics, Union minister Nitin Gadkari has said that nobody should be discriminated over caste, religion, language or sex. "Jo karega jaat ki baat, usko kaske marunga laat (I will kick hard anyone who talks about caste)," the senior BJP leader said, while addressing the convocation ceremony of Central India Group of Institutions in Nagpur on Saturday. Gadkari, 67, said he believes no person is big because of his caste, religion, language or creed but he is big because of his qualities. Hence, we do not discriminate anyone based on his caste, religion, sex, or language, he added. I am in politics and lots of things take place, but I walk my way. If anyone wants to vote for me, he can and if someone does not want, he is free to do so, he said. My friends tell me why have you said this or taken such a stand. I tell them that one is not finished if he loses an election. I will not compromise with my principles and will follow them in my personal ..

Nitin Gadkari opposes caste politics, says merit should define individuals

Gadkari asserted that an individual's worth should be determined by their qualities rather than caste, religion, language, or gender

'Stop asking for tax cuts, govt needs funds': Nitin Gadkari to India Inc

Nitin Gadkari stressed that while the government aims to lower taxes, it cannot function effectively without revenue

Gadkari blames poor road designs, faulty DPRs for rising accidents in India

India recorded 1,80,000 deaths due to road accidents in 2023, said Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, during a meeting with transport ministers from all states and UTs

Adani lines up Rs 30K cr investment in Kerala for port, airport expansion

Gadkari assures Rs 3 trillion worth of road projects in state during current tenure of central government

Rectification of 4,777 black spots to reduce road accidents: Gadkari

A total of 13,795 black spots have been identified on the National Highways (NHs), out of which short-term rectification measures have been completed on 9,525 such spots and permanent rectification has been completed on 4,777 black spots, Parliament was informed on Thursday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said certain locations on NHs are identified as black spots based on the occurrence of a certain number of accidents involving fatalities and grievous injuries. "Government has taken steps for immediate short-term measures on such black spots like road markings, signages, crash barriers, road studs, delineators, closure of unauthorized median openings, traffic calming measures, etc. Long-term measures like improvement of road geometrics, junction improvements, spot widening of carriageway, construction of underpasses/overpasses, etc," Gadkari said. Replying to a separate question, he said about 1,01,900 km of National Highways (NHs) .

Drafting uniform toll policy to ease travel on National Highways: Gadkari

The road transport ministry is working on a uniform toll policy to benefit national highway users, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday. Gadkari also asserted that now India's highway infrastructure matches that of the US. "We are working on a uniform toll policy. It will address the problem faced by the commuters," he told PTI in an interview, without elaborating further. Gadkari was responding to a question on simmering discontent among users of National Highways on account of high toll charges and sub-par road-user experience. The longest-serving road transport and highways minister said that the ministry has decided to initially implement a barrier-less global navigation satellite system (GNSS)-based toll collection system on national highways. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Gadkari said, has been taking the complaints made by commuters on social media very seriously and is taking strong action against contractors involved. At present, while private cars

Sugar industry has potential to increase its GDP share up to 3%: Gadkari

The sugar industry has the potential to increase its share in the GDP to 3 per cent from the current 1-1.15 per cent, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday, while emphasising on the need to raise per acre production of sugarcane. The Indian agriculture sector provides livelihood to about 42.3 per cent of the population and has a share of 18.2 per cent in the country's GDP at current prices. "The Indian sugar industry has the potential to contribute 3 per cent in the country's GDP," he said. Noting that the government has done a lot to encourage production of alternative fuel in India, the minister also said the government is now taking steps to encourage exports of ethanol. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a 3 per cent increase in the procurement price for ethanol made from C-heavy molasses to Rs 57.97 per litre for the 2024-25 supply year, while keeping rates unchanged for other feedstocks. The price increase, aimed at boosting ethanol production from sugar industr

Gadkari campaigns for Delhi Assembly polls, highlights BJP's infra push

Gadkari pointed out that modern infrastructure is being built rapidly in Delhi at a cost of Rs 65 thousand crore

Steel, cement sector in hands of few people, cartels a big problem: Gadkari

Union Minister for Road Transport Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said the steel and cement industry "cartels" pose a big problem for the country and its infrastructure development. There are very few players in the two sectors, which are critical for infrastructure development, and these players act in cahoots. "Steel and cement industries are in the hands of a few people. They always decide the rates. Their cartelism is a big problem for the country," he said, speaking at the IECRP 2025 exhibition here. The Union minister said the fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) can act as a good alternative to break the hold of the steel and cement companies and offered every help possible. "To create alternative material is my important interest to support you," he said. However, he urged the FRP players to bring down their prices such that the final costs are less by 20-25 per cent than the other entrenched alternatives. He said FRP players will have to invest in their research and development by ..

India's automobile industry will be number one in next 5 years: Gadkari

India's automobile industry will be number one in the world in the next five years, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday, highlighting that the industry has created 4.5 crore jobs till now, the highest in the country. Addressing a Federation of Automobile Dealers Association (FADA) event, the road transport and highways minister further said demand of Indian automobile products is very high globally. "The size of Indian automobile industry is now Rs 22 lakh crore. I am confident that within five years, the Indian automobile industry will be number one in the world," he said. Presently, size of the US automobile industry is Rs 78 lakh crore, followed by China (Rs 47 lakh crore) and India (Rs 22 lakh crore). Gadkari further said when he took charge of the transport ministry in 2014, the size of the automobile industry was Rs 7.5 lakh crore and today its size is Rs 22 lakh crore. According to the minister, the automobile industry has created 4.5 crore jobs till now -- the .