New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said petrol and diesel vehicles do not have a long-term future in India.
He urged automobile companies to focus on cleaner and greener fuel options. Speaking at the Busworld India Conclave 2025, Gadkari said, "There is no future for diesel and petrol vehicles." He asked vehicle manufacturers to speed up the shift to alternative fuels such as biofuels, CNG, LNG, and electric vehicles. He said petrol and diesel create two major problems - India has to import large amounts of crude oil, and these fuels also cause pollution. Also Read: Non-E20 Vehicles Will Not Be Phased Out Or Retrofitted, Confirms Nitin Gadkari Gadkari also highlighted the government's growing focus on hydrogen-powered vehicles. "We are now on the 10 routes where we are running hydrogen trucks and buses. Hydrogen is the fuel of the future," he said. Several major automobile companies, including Tata Motors, Volvo, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra & Mahindra, are already testing hydrogen-powered vehicles in India. The minister also spoke about flex-fuel vehicles and ethanol. He said ethanol can play a major role in reducing India's dependence on fossil fuels. India can produce ethanol from multiple agricultural sources, and the industry is already working on flex-fuel engines. At present, many vehicles are also running on E20 fuel. Apart from clean energy, Gadkari stressed the need for safer public transport. He announced that bus manufacturers will no longer be allowed to self-certify their vehicles. Instead, all bus registrations must be uploaded on the Vahan portal along with physical inspections and video approvals. He urged bus makers and OEMs to focus on quality, safety, and passenger comfort, rather than simply cutting costs. Gadkari added that demand for electric buses in India could reach 1.5 lakh units over the next three years. Currently, India's annual manufacturing capacity stands at around 70,000 buses.
