Centre's Push For Cleaner Delhi: Only 20 Per Cent Of Vehicles And Cars Will Run On Diesel In National Capital By 2029, Says Gadkari

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has unveiled ambitious plans to reduce pollution and transform India's transport sector.

Speaking on the challenges posed by the transport industry at the tenth edition of the Times Network Indian Economic Conclave 2024, Gadkari revealed that 40 per cent of air pollution in India is caused by the transport sector and announced a series of measures to combat this issue.

He highlighted that the government has allocated Rs 75,000 crore to reduce pollution in Delhi, a city heavily impacted by emissions from vehicles and neighboring states.

Gadkari pointed out that the main sources of pollution in Delhi are the neighboring states of Punjab and Haryana, particularly due to the burning of crop residue, or "Parali." 

To address this, he proposed using CNG as an alternative and announced a plan to produce 60 lakh tons of Bio-CNG in Panipat.

Gadkari expressed optimism about solving the problem of Parali burning within two years and stressed the need for schemes to stop the practice.

He also proposed reducing taxes on precast construction materials to encourage their use in infrastructure projects, which would contribute to sustainability.

Focusing on the transition to cleaner fuels, Gadkari declared that in the next five years, diesel buses will be eliminated in Delhi, and only 20 per cent of vehicles and cars will run on diesel in the city.

He also announced plans to introduce electric tractors, projecting that 3 lakh diesel tractors and 25 lakh electric tractors would be part of this transformation.

The minister emphasised the importance of alternative biofuels, noting that India spends Rs 22 lakh crore annually on fossil fuel imports.

He urged a shift towards sustainable energy solutions to reduce dependence on imports and mitigate pollution.

Also Read: Bengaluru Techie Atul Subhash's Suicide: Plea In Supreme Court Seeks Review of Dowry And Domestic Violence Laws