Focus to make transport system sustainable, increase India’s energy security: Gadkari

Pune: The Centre is aiming to make the Indian transport system sustainable amid hovering uncertainty around its energy security owing to the existing geopolitical situations and the unrest in West Asia, said Union minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday."It is obvious that India's energy security is important with the unfolding international scenario and the war. India imports 86% of its energy requirements causing foreign exchange outflow of Rs22 lakh crore," he said at the CompressedBiogas Conclave 2026 organised by the Indian Federation of Green Energy.
The govt has taken several initiatives, including promotion of non-polluting fuels that can boost the agro-economy, to reduce reliance on foreign imports and make the Indian transport system self-reliant, he said.Gadkari also stressed the importance of creatingintegrated systems for alternativefuels to reach the end users."Bio-CNG manufacturers can increase their own market size by building filling stations near their production plants, providing finance to farmers to buy tractors and converting their vehicle to ply on CNG fuel," the minister said.Gadkari also urged the industry to include tribal and rural economies to develop sustainable fuel technology. "The need of the country is to facilitate technology for jal (water), jameen (land), jungle and janwar (animals)," he said, adding that the people belonging to the agriculture sector are suffering due to low incomes and associated issues — like poverty, starvation and unemployment.The manufacturing sector contributes 22%-24% of India's gross domestic product. On the other hand, agriculture contributes only 12%-14%, even as the population depending on farming is 55%-60%, Gadkari said.The petroleum lobby has immense vested interest in keeping India reliant on imports and it will create roadblocks in development of alternative and sustainable fuels in India, Gadkari added.