Davos: Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that he had proposed to make cycle tracks on all major roads across the country, including on highways, and favoured a shift towards electricity-based public transport services, including electric cars being run as taxi in some cities.
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The Union Minister who was here to attend the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting, said there are several opportunities in India and people came and met him here with investment proposals and innovative ideas.
“In roads, shipping and ports ministries together, we have begun work on projects worth ₹4.5 lakh crore and I am confident of further work orders to the tune of ₹1.5 lakh crore by March-end, taking the total to ₹6 lakh crore,” Gadkari told PTI in an interview here.
Asked about air pollution being a big issue, the minister said, “Air pollution is indeed one of the biggest problems we have. Therefore, I want to promote ethanol, biodiesel, electric business.
“We have begun making ethanol from municipal waste. I am going to request national highways, state highways, district highways and even municipal roads in metro cities to make cycle tracks.”
Mr Gadkari, for good measure, wants “cycle to become the most loved vehicle of the country”.
“First, it will reduce pollution and it is good for health also. Second, I want to promote electricity-based vehicles for public transport in our country. I want to promote mass rapid transport run by electricity. We are surplus in electricity and importing petrol and diesel, which also add to pollution,” Mr Gadkari said further.
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“In some cities, we are thinking about electric taxi. Just like petrol pumps, there will be electric charging stations. There are several innovations that are happening in these areas. Besides, we are already in the process of introducing the old car scrapping plan.There are problems, but there are also solutions and we need to convert the problems into opportunities,” said Mr Gadkari.