Mumbai: Nitin Gadkari has said that petrol and diesel vehicles will not last long and India should move to cleaner fuel options.
At an event, he said that fuel imports are increasing and pollution is also rising. Because of this, India must reduce its use of petrol and diesel. He asked vehicle companies to focus on cleaner options like biofuels and other eco-friendly technologies.
Gadkari also told bus makers to focus more on quality, not just low cost. He said safety and comfort are very important and should not be ignored. People now prefer better-quality vehicles even if they are a bit expensive.
He also said India has only 2 buses for every 1,000 people, while other countries have around 8. This shows India needs more buses and better public transport.
India makes about 70,000 buses every year, and the industry is worth around ₹35,000 crore. Gadkari said the demand for electric buses could reach 1.5 lakh in the next three years, which is a big chance for growth.
He also warned that some companies are still supplying low-quality buses but getting orders because demand is high.
