Gadkari urges industry to use waterways for transportation of goods

New Delhi: Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, urged the industry on Thursday to use waterways as a mode of transportation for goods to reduce cost and become competitive in the export market. Speaking at a conference on 'Developing a Roadmap for Low Carbon & Sustainable Mobility in India,' organised by FICCI, Gadkari said, "This is the appropriate time. We have the best technology, economic viability and we need public-private investments. To support these, we have government policies."

'Waterways transportation is most economically viable transport'

Highlighting the potential in the transport sector, Gadkari urged the industry to use waterways transportation as a mode for transporting goods. "The most economically viable transport is water transport and public transport on electricity," he added.

Gadkari said that the government has already started the process of introducing Broad gauge metro in railways using the already existing railway network. He also invited the private sector to explore and invest in this sector. "This model can be given to the private sector to run these metros," he said.

Delhi-Mumbai express highway to be completed in next 3 years

Gadkari said that the Delhi-Mumbai express highway, part of the 22 green highway projects, will be completed in the next 3 years and will reduce travel distance by 280 kms. "In the long term, LNG should be used in trucks which will reduce the cost by 40 percent as compared to diesel and CNG for city buses," he added.

Gadkari invited the private sector to come forward to invest in the conversion of CNG from stubble and solid waste. He added that the government is also working on adopting bio-aviation fuel as a fuel option which will be cheaper than petroleum aviation fuel. He urged FICCI to develop a policy for the next 25 years focusing on cost-effective, pollution-free, best technology options, ecology, and environment.

'Govt planning to introduce 10,000 electric buses'

Highlighting the potential of e-vehicles in India, Gadkari said that the government is planning to introduce 10,000 electric buses and the government will support the e-vehicle sector. "By using the world's best technology, we can see a reduction of 10 percent in the logistics cost and will also help in reducing pollution, creation of new jobs and the overall development of the economy," added Gadkari.

He emphasised on different options such as the conversion of waste and sewage into biofuels, utilisation of wasteland for Jatropha, promotion of hydrogen fuel cells, alternative fuels in the rural sector to contribute towards livelihood generation and waterways as a long-term solution.