Gadkari Unveils Green Mobility Plan With New Tech, Faster Roads

07 Jul 2025 CW Team

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.

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.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Apr 2026

InsideFPV Delivers ₹10 Crore Kamikaze Drone Order Under MoD’s EPR Route

InsideFPV, a Surat-based drone technology manufacturer, has successfully executed a ₹10 crore defence contract to supply indigenous kamikaze drones under the Ministry of Defence’s Emergency Procurement Route (EPR). The company completed the delivery of hundreds of FPV kamikaze drone platforms within a rapid two-month timeframe, highlighting its ability to meet urgent military procurement timelines.The supply orders were fulfilled under the emergency procurement mechanism, which is aimed at fast-tracking acquisitions for immediate operational needs. InsideFPV’s quick execution reflects it..

Infrastructure Energy

06 Apr 2026

Vedanta Resources Secures Fitch Upgrade to ‘BB-’, Best Rating Since 2015

Vedanta Resources Limited (VRL), a global player in metals, oil & gas, critical minerals, power and technology, has received a credit rating upgrade from Fitch Ratings, marking its strongest bond rating in over a decade.Fitch has raised Vedanta Resources’ Long-Term Foreign-Currency Issuer Default Rating (IDR) to ‘BB-’ from ‘B+’, while maintaining a Stable Outlook. The agency also upgraded VRL’s senior unsecured rating, along with the ratings of US dollar-denominated bonds issued by Vedanta Resources Finance II Plc and guaranteed by VRL, to ‘BB-’.The upgrade represents Vedan..

Real Estate

06 Apr 2026

NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter Launched

The NAREDCO NextGen NCR Chapter was recently launched at Excelerate 2026 in Mumbai, marking a key step towards integrating emerging real estate leaders from the National Capital Region with the national platform. The initiative aims to promote sustainable and responsible urban development through collaboration and knowledge exchange.The event brought together young developers, entrepreneurs, and professionals from across NCR, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Bhiwadi, and Meerut. Discussions focused on urban development, finance, sustainability, innovation, and policy, emphasisi..