Transport ministry to promote clean auto tech for ‘pradushan mukt’ Bharat

Along with prime minister Narendra Modi's ongoing Swachh Bharat (clean India) campaign, there will be a pradushan-mukt Bharat (pollution-free India) in the coming years. While the Swachh Bharat campaign is being realised through people-engagement, the pradushan-mukt Bharat campaign will be kicked off by incentivising and promoting clean automotive propulsion technologies.

The Union Budget, to be presented next month, may well play a key role by offering incentives for green technologies. The finance minister will reportedly offer a Rs 800 crore incentive package for electric and hybrid vehicles in the Budget. Speaking at the Bloomberg TV- Autocar India Awards on January 9, Nitin Gadkari, Union minister for road transport and highways, said that green automotive solutions will be promoted by the government to reduce pollution levels.

Speaking to an audience represented by the auto captains of industry, Gadkari said, "We will recommend that exemptions be given for electric buses or those running on ethanol, biodiesel, biogas, or cars running on biofuel or electric vehicle technology."

Gadkari said his ministry is focusing on road safety and simplifying processes at RTOs. He said the new Act "will be of international standard" in line with those in Japan, Germany and the UK. "We want to use e-governance to make the whole system transparent. We want to change the total system which will give relief to manufacturers and the people,” says Gadkari.

The minister said the automobile sector will have a significant contribution to the prime minister's 'Make in India' campaign’.  The Indian automobile industry contributes to around 7 percent of the country's GDP and employs 19 million. Gadkari said that he is ‘confident’ that the new Motor Vehicle Act will be passed in the next session of parliament.