Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Oct 6: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced on Monday that electric vehicle (EV) prices in India could soon be on par with petrol-powered vehicles, possibly within the next four to six months. Speaking at the FICCI Higher Education Summit, he highlighted this milestone as part of the government’s aggressive push towards clean and sustainable mobility.

Gadkari pointed to India’s enormous annual fuel import bill of Rs 22 lac crore as both an economic and environmental burden, underlining the urgent need to shift away from fossil fuels. He expressed confidence that India's automobile industry, currently valued at Rs 22 lac crore, would soon outpace global leaders like the US and China in the coming years.

In his remarks, Gadkari credited Indian farmers with playing a key role in the transition to cleaner energy through ethanol production. Farmers have earned an estimated Rs 45,000 crore from producing ethanol using crops like corn, contributing significantly to domestic energy security and reducing import dependency.

Gadkari also spotlighted India’s green hydrogen initiatives, announcing the rollout of the country’s first "hydrogen highways" along strategic national corridors. With hydrogen set to be the "fuel of the future," trials are already underway for hydrogen-powered trucks. A total of Rs 500 crore has been allocated to five consortia for pilot runs involving 37 vehicles across ten routes, supported by nine dedicated hydrogen refuelling stations.

The minister stressed the importance of reducing India’s 87% dependence on crude oil imports, which cost the economy around Rs 22 lac crore annually. Accelerating the adoption of EVs and green hydrogen, he said, would not only save money but also position India as a global leader in clean transportation and automotive innovation.