Nitin Gadkari

Road tax and registration fees aren't just bureaucratic formalities; they're pivotal factors influencing the rise or fall of EVs, SMEV Chief Evangelist Sanjay Kaul said.

A miniscule percentage of the country's people can afford houses with price tags of Rs 1 crore or more and the country's masses should be at the centre of approach to housing construction, a release quoted Gadkari as saying.

The minister pointed out that India is the fastest growing major economy in the world and auto dealers will play an important role in making India a USD 5 trillion economy.

The minister added that the Indian automobile industry is among the fastest-growing markets in the world and the country aims to become the world’s largest automobile manufacturing hub.

The ministry is focussing on building wayside amenities for highway travellers, including dormitories, clean toilets and trauma centres.

The government last year proposed to implement the six airbags safety norm from October 2023 for enhanced safety of occupants.

Gadkari emphasised that the Indian G20 presidency was the first time that India has gained the respect and recognition for global countries around the world.

The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said that the Dwarka Expressway project has many tunnels, bridges, and bridges over bridges, and the base cost has been set around Rs 18.5 crore per km.

The ministry is focussed on making the highways environment friendly and is using waste plastics and looking at ways to use municipal wastes in construction.

Vehicle-scrapping policy to contribute the most to reducing air pollution, minister says.

India hopes to work closely with Brazil and the US in biofuel development and technology sharing for mutual benefit.

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On a day when Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari spoke of the need to levy an additional 10 per cent tax on diesel-run vehicles to help cut emissions, although clarified that there is no proposal under the government consideration to impose such a tax, the automakers pointed out that already sales of diesel passenger vehicle have been declining.

Shares of car makers were under pressure after Nitin Gadkari's comments, however the Transport Minister later clarified that no such proposal of additional tax on diesel vehicles is currently under 'active consideration'.

I reviewed the progress of National Highways projects in Chennai today. The Bengaluru-Chennai express highway will start by this year-end or January 2024. So, you can launch luxury buses and sleeper coaches in this sector, the minister said

The Minister of Road Transport & Highways also said farmers would not just remain “annadatas” (food grain producers) but would become “urjadatas” (energy producers) in a big way.

With increased ethanol use, the money spent on imports will reduce gradually and it will go to the villages and lead to development, he said.

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The launch is in line with the government's policy drive to decrease India's dependency on imported petroleum and shift away from fossil fuels.

Gadkari, who has been vocal in nudging car manufacturers to make alternative fuel-powered and green vehicles, has time and again stressed on the necessity to cut down oil imports and make India "atmanirbhar", echoing the Narendra Modi-led government's vision of making the nation self-reliant across all sectors