Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has outlined an ambitious blueprint for next-generation mobility, featuring electric rapid transport, ropeways, hyperloop systems, cable-run buses and funicular railways to transform both urban and remote travel in India. Speaking to PTI, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways said that over 360 ropeway and funicular projects are planned nationwide, with 60 already under way—including in hilly terrains like Kedarnath.

The government aims to upgrade 25,000 km of two-lane roads into four-lane highways and scale road construction to 100 km per day. “We’re innovating across transport. A revolution in mass mobility is under way,” said Gadkari. National highway length has grown from 91,287 km in 2013–14 to 1,46,204 km, and High-Speed Corridors from 93 km to 2,474 km in the same period.

As part of sustainability efforts, 20–25 crore trees will be planted along highways, and a tree bank proposal with the Ministry of Environment is in advanced stages. For each tree cut, five will be replanted. Road infrastructure will also see modern upgrades, including AI-powered safety tools, precast construction, and drone surveillance.

To cut costs and emissions, 11 automakers—including Tata, Toyota, Hyundai and Mahindra—have committed to producing flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on ethanol, methanol, or blends of biofuels and petrol/diesel. This is expected to reduce fossil fuel dependence and lower the Rs 22 trillion annual fuel import bill.

A 135-seater electric bus pilot in Nagpur will offer airline-grade amenities and 30–40 minute fast-charging at stops. If successful, similar buses will run across major intercity routes including Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Dehradun, Mumbai-Pune, and Bangalore-Chennai. These buses are projected to cost 30 per cent less than diesel ones, with lower emissions.

Pilot programmes like Metrino pod taxis, pillar-based metro lines, and hyperloop systems are planned for cities like Delhi and Bengaluru. GMRL is also working with the private sector to develop 670 roadside amenities, providing global-standard services for highway travellers.

Gadkari stated that the transport sector contributes nearly 40 per cent of India’s air pollution. Reducing logistics costs from 14 per cent of GDP to 9 per cent through better roads and cleaner transport will help drive economic growth, create jobs, and cut emissions.