No investments from China in Indian highway projects: Nitin Gadkari

Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari told the media that Chinese companies have not made investments recently in highway projects in India.

In July 2020, amid the border standoff with China, Gadkari said that India would not allow Chinese companies to compete in India's highway projects, including those through joint ventures (JV).

India would have to expand its exports and decrease its imports, said Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways.

On US-based electric car major Tesla's demand of reduction in import duties on electric vehicles (EVs) in India, Gadkari said that the decision on providing any tax concession to Tesla will be taken by the finance ministry.

The US companies in a letter to the road ministry said that the effective import tariff of 110% on vehicles with a customs value over $40,000 is conditional to zero-emission vehicles.

US firms have urged the government to standardise the tariff to 40% on electric cars irrespective of the customs value and withdraw the social welfare surcharge of 10% on electric cars.

The government is seeing prospects regarding green hydrogen as a potential transport fuel, Gadkari said.

He said that India would have to increase its exports and reduce imports, to make India of the future.

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