Latest news with #Metrino
NDTV
9 hours ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Nitin Gadkari's Mega Mobility Plan: Hyperloop, Electric Buses, Ropeways On Fast Track
Ranchi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for next-generation mass mobility in the country, which includes electric rapid transport, hyperloop in urban areas and ropeways, cable buses and funicular railways in inaccessible terrains. In an interview with PTI, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said India's transport sector is undergoing a major transition, with initiatives like tree bank, mobile-based driving tests, and flex-fuel engines by 11 leading automakers in the pipeline. Also on the agenda are plans to upgrade 25,000 km of two-lane highways to four lanes, establish an electric mass rapid transport network across major routes and scale up road construction to 100 km per day. 'We are driving innovation. A revolution in mass mobility is underway,' Mr Gadkari said. 'Work is progressing at a war footing to transform how India travels, with a focus not just on metropolises but also on remote, inaccessible rural areas. We're building ropeways, cable cars and funicular railways across 360 locations, including Kedarnath. Work has already started on 60 of these projects,' he said. Funicular railways are a system that combines elevator and railway technologies to efficiently transport people and goods up and down inclines. These are particularly useful in mountainous or hilly areas. Mr Gadkari said the cost of these projects ranges from Rs 200 crore to Rs 5,000 crore and once completed, they will change the face of India. The minister added that improved road infrastructure will not only boost the economy but will also help in propelling growth and creating jobs. 'I am more than confident that in a year's time, our highways will match the standard and quality of US roads that I have been emphasising,' he said, adding that days are not far off when metropolises will have cable-run buses, electric rapid mass transport buses with aeroplane-like facilities. Mr Gadkari said pilot projects like Metrino pod taxis, hyperloop systems, and pillar-based mass rapid transport are in the pipeline for cities like Delhi and Bengaluru. 'Technology and investors are both coming in. It will be a revolution,' he said. The minister said, 'Eleven companies, including Tata, Toyota, Hyundai and Mahindra, have agreed to build flex-fuel engine vehicles that will reduce dependence on fuel imports as well as fossil fuel." Flex-fuel vehicles are equipped with internal combustion engines that can operate on more than one fuel. They are primarily meant to run on ethanol and methanol or a blend of biofuels and on conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel. Mr Gadkari said India is working on 25,000 km of road upgrades for converting two-lane roads into four-lanes and 'we plan to build 100 km of roads per day – this is our target, not a declaration,' he clarified. The length of national highways was 91,287 km in 2013-14 and there has been an increase of about 60 per cent in the length of NHs to 1,46,204 km, he said. The length of National High-Speed Corridors (HSC) has expanded from 93 km in 2014 to 2,474 km at present, he said. New technologies, like precast construction, three-ft road barriers, and AI-based road safety tools, including drones and camera monitoring systems, are being introduced to boost efficiency and safety. 'We plan to plant 20–25 crore trees along highways, with an aim to transplant old trees and replant five for every one cut.' Talks for a tree bank are in advanced stages with the Ministry of Environment and once a go-ahead is received, full-fledged work will start, the minister said. Speaking about electric rapid transport, Mr Gadkari said a tender has been floated for a 135-seater electric bus in Nagpur as a pilot project. The bus will feature executive-class seating, air-conditioning, and airline-grade amenities, capable of running at speeds of 120–125 km/hr. It will recharge in 30–40 minutes at designated stops and is expected to cost 30 per cent less than traditional diesel buses while offering significantly lower emissions, he said. 'Once the trial is successful, we plan to introduce similar buses pan-India, including on routes like Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Jaipur, Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Aurangabad and Bangalore-Chennai, among others," he added. As many as 670 roadside amenities have already been approved, aimed at providing world-class facilities for both travellers and drivers across national highways, he said. The minister said India's transport sector contributes nearly 40 per cent to the country's air pollution, and emphasised that green mobility initiatives will not only help curb emissions but also significantly reduce the nation's annual fuel import bill of around Rs 22 lakh crore. He further claimed that improved road infrastructure will help bring down logistics costs from 14 per cent of GDP to 9 per cent by the end of the year, enhancing overall economic efficiency.
Time of India
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Nitin Gadkari unveils vision for green mobility, including 135-seater electric buses, hyperloop, ropeways and more
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled an ambitious plan to overhaul India's transport infrastructure with a strong emphasis on sustainable and high-tech mobility solutions. In an interview with news agency PTI, Gadkari highlighted upcoming initiatives such as electric rapid mass transit, hyperloop corridors in urban areas, and ropeway and cable-car systems in remote regions. 'We are driving innovation. A revolution in mass mobility is underway,' he said, stressing the role of technology, accessibility, and environmental responsibility in shaping India's infrastructure future. Highway expansion and new technologies On the national road network, Gadkari reiterated the target of constructing 100 km of highways daily and upgrading 25,000 km of two-lane roads to four lanes. National highways have increased from 91,287 km in 2013–14 to 1,46,204 km as of now, while high-speed corridors have expanded from 93 km in 2014 to 2,474 km. To enhance safety and efficiency, the ministry is introducing AI-based monitoring, precast construction methods, and 3-ft-high road barriers. A proposal to plant 20–25 crore trees along highways is also under review, with a 'tree bank' plan currently being considered by the environment ministry. Urban and remote connectivity projects underway Gadkari revealed that pilot projects like Metrino pod taxis , hyperloop transport , and elevated pillar-based networks are being planned for cities such as Delhi and Bengaluru. 'Days are not far off when cities will have cable-run buses and electric rapid mass transport with aeroplane-like facilities,' he said. Live Events In hilly and remote areas, 360 ropeway and funicular railway projects are in development, with 60 currently underway. Locations include pilgrimage sites like Kedarnath. These systems are aimed at providing safe and efficient transportation on steep terrain. In Nagpur, tenders have been floated for 135-seater electric buses capable of reaching speeds of 120–125 km/hr. Equipped with premium seating and air conditioning, these fast-charging vehicles (30–40 minutes) will undergo trials before being deployed on intercity routes, such as Delhi–Jaipur and Mumbai–Pune. Green fuel push and pollution reduction goals Gadkari said India's transition to green energy is progressing, with 11 companies—including Tata, Toyota, Hyundai, and Mahindra—agreeing to manufacture flex-fuel vehicles that run on ethanol or methanol blends. These vehicles aim to reduce fossil fuel dependency and lower emissions. India's transport sector contributes nearly 40 percent of the country's air pollution, according to Gadkari. The shift to alternative fuels is expected to significantly reduce the Rs 22 lakh crore fuel import bill and lower logistics costs from 14 percent to 9 percent of GDP by the end of the year. The minister recently stated that India could become a net energy exporter within the next 6–7 years, supported by advancements in ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen fuel technologies. Economic Times WhatsApp channel )
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14 hours ago
- Automotive
- Business Standard
Gadkari's mega mobility plan: Electric buses, ropeways on fast track
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for next-generation mass mobility in the country, which includes electric rapid transport, hyperloop in urban areas and ropeways, cable buses and funicular railways in inaccessible terrains. In an interview with PTI, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said India's transport sector is undergoing a major transition, with initiatives like tree bank, mobile-based driving tests, and flex-fuel engines by 11 leading automakers in the pipeline. Also on the agenda are plans to upgrade 25,000 km of two-lane highways to four lanes, establish an electric mass rapid transport network across major routes and scale up road construction to 100 km per day. 'We are driving innovation. A revolution in mass mobility is underway,' Gadkari said. 'Work is progressing at a war footing to transform how India travels, with a focus not just on metropolises but also on remote, inaccessible rural areas. We're building ropeways, cable cars and funicular railways across 360 locations, including Kedarnath. Work has already started on 60 of these projects,' he said. Funicular railways are a system that combines elevator and railway technologies to efficiently transport people and goods up and down inclines. These are particularly useful in mountainous or hilly areas. Gadkari said the cost of these projects ranges from ₹200 crore to ₹5,000 crore and once completed, they will change the face of India. The minister added that improved road infrastructure will not only boost the economy but will also help in propelling growth and creating jobs. 'I am more than confident that in a year's time, our highways will match the standard and quality of US roads that I have been emphasising,' he said, adding that days are not far off when metropolises will have cable-run buses, electric rapid mass transport buses with aeroplane-like facilities. Gadkari said pilot projects like Metrino pod taxis, hyperloop systems, and pillar-based mass rapid transport are in the pipeline for cities like Delhi and Bengaluru. 'Technology and investors are both coming in. It will be a revolution,' he said. The minister said, 'Eleven companies, including Tata, Toyota, Hyundai and Mahindra, have agreed to build flex-fuel engine vehicles that will reduce dependence on fuel imports as well as fossil fuel." Flex-fuel vehicles are equipped with internal combustion engines that can operate on more than one fuel. They are primarily meant to run on ethanol and methanol or a blend of biofuels and on conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel. Gadkari said India is working on 25,000 km of road upgrades for converting two-lane roads into four-lanes and 'we plan to build 100 km of roads per day – this is our target, not a declaration,' he clarified. The length of national highways was 91,287 km in 2013-14 and there has been an increase of about 60 per cent in the length of NHs to 1,46,204 km, he said. The length of National High-Speed Corridors (HSC) has expanded from 93 km in 2014 to 2,474 km at present, he said. New technologies, like precast construction, three-ft road barriers, and AI-based road safety tools, including drones and camera monitoring systems, are being introduced to boost efficiency and safety. 'We plan to plant 20–25 crore trees along highways, with an aim to transplant old trees and replant five for every one cut.' Talks for a tree bank are in advanced stages with the Ministry of Environment and once a go-ahead is received, full-fledged work will start, the minister said. Speaking about electric rapid transport, Gadkari said a tender has been floated for a 135-seater electric bus in Nagpur as a pilot project. The bus will feature executive-class seating, air-conditioning, and airline-grade amenities, capable of running at speeds of 120–125 km/hr. It will recharge in 30–40 minutes at designated stops and is expected to cost 30 per cent less than traditional diesel buses while offering significantly lower emissions, he said. 'Once the trial is successful, we plan to introduce similar buses pan-India, including on routes like Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Jaipur, Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Aurangabad and Bangalore-Chennai, among others," he added. As many as 670 roadside amenities have already been approved, aimed at providing world-class facilities for both travellers and drivers across national highways, he said. The minister said India's transport sector contributes nearly 40 per cent to the country's air pollution, and emphasised that green mobility initiatives will not only help curb emissions but also significantly reduce the nation's annual fuel import bill of around ₹22 trillion. He further claimed that improved road infrastructure will help bring down logistics costs from 14 per cent of GDP to 9 per cent by the end of the year, enhancing overall economic efficiency.
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Mobility revolution: Union minister Nitin Gadkari unveils futuristic roadmap; pitches electric buses, ropeways and hyperloops
Union minister Nitin Gadkari unveils futuristic roadmap Union minister Nitin Gadkari has outlined a bold vision to transform India's transport landscape, with a focus on electric rapid mass transport, hyperloop corridors in urban centres, and ropeway and cable-car connectivity in remote regions. In an interview with news agency PTI, Gadkari said the government is working on multiple futuristic mobility solutions that aim to cut pollution, improve connectivity, and reduce logistics costs. 'We are driving innovation. A revolution in mass mobility is underway,' he said, underlining how technology, sustainability, and accessibility will shape the next phase of India's infrastructure growth. According to the minister, work is underway on 360 ropeway and funicular railway projects in hilly terrains, including Kedarnath, with 60 already in progress. These systems, designed for steep inclines, are seen as essential for providing safe and efficient transportation in remote areas. At the urban level, Gadkari revealed that pilot projects like Metrino pod taxis, hyperloop systems, and pillar-based transport networks are planned for Delhi and Bengaluru. 'Days are not far off when cities will have cable-run buses and electric rapid mass transport with aeroplane-like facilities,' he said. He also confirmed that tenders have been floated for 135-seater electric buses in Nagpur, equipped with premium seating, AC, and the ability to travel at 120–125 km/hr. These buses, capable of recharging in 30–40 minutes, will initially operate on trial and then be introduced on intercity routes like Delhi-Jaipur and Mumbai-Pune. On the road infrastructure front, Gadkari reiterated the ministry's goal of building 100 km of highways per day and upgrading 25,000 km of two-lane roads to four lanes. National highways have expanded from 91,287 km in 2013-14 to 1,46,204 km today, he claimed. High-speed corridors have also grown substantially, from 93 km in 2014 to 2,474 km now. To improve safety and quality, new technologies like precast construction, AI-based monitoring, and 3-ft road barriers are being rolled out, as per the minister. The government also plans to plant 20–25 crore trees along highways, with a proposal for a 'tree bank' in advanced stages with the environment ministry. On the green energy front, Gadkari said 11 companies, including Tata, Toyota, Hyundai, and Mahindra, have agreed to manufacture flex-fuel vehicles. These vehicles can run on ethanol or methanol blends, helping to reduce India's reliance on fossil fuels. India's transport sector contributes nearly 40 per cent to the country's air pollution, Gadkari noted. He said the switch to green mobility would not only bring down emissions but also slash India's fuel import bill, currently around Rs 22 lakh crore. He further stated that improved infrastructure and alternative fuels would help bring logistics costs down from 14 per cent to 9 per cent of GDP by year-end. Earlier, Gadkari recently said India could become a net energy exporter in 6–7 years, driven by advances in ethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen fuel technologies. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Gadkari's mega mobility plan for India: Hyperloop, electric buses, ropeways on fast track
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled an ambitious roadmap for next-generation mass mobility in the country, which includes electric rapid transport, hyperloop in urban areas and ropeways, cable buses and funicular railways in inaccessible terrains. In an interview with PTI, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways said India's transport sector is undergoing a major transition, with initiatives like tree bank, mobile-based driving tests, and flex-fuel engines by 11 leading automakers in the pipeline. Also on the agenda are plans to upgrade 25,000 km of two-lane highways to four lanes, establish an electric mass rapid transport network across major routes and scale up road construction to 100 km per day. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Bank Owned Properties For Sale In Lamper Kidul (Prices May Surprise You) Foreclosed Homes | Search ads Search Now Undo "We are driving innovation. A revolution in mass mobility is underway," Gadkari said. "Work is progressing at a war footing to transform how India travels, with a focus not just on metropolises but also on remote, inaccessible rural areas. We're building ropeways, cable cars and funicular railways across 360 locations, including Kedarnath. Work has already started on 60 of these projects," he said. Live Events Funicular railways are a system that combines elevator and railway technologies to efficiently transport people and goods up and down inclines. These are particularly useful in mountainous or hilly areas. Gadkari said the cost of these projects ranges from Rs 200 crore to Rs 5,000 crore and once completed, they will change the face of India. The minister added that improved road infrastructure will not only boost the economy but will also help in propelling growth and creating jobs. "I am more than confident that in a year's time, our highways will match the standard and quality of US roads that I have been emphasising," he said, adding that days are not far off when metropolises will have cable-run buses, electric rapid mass transport buses with aeroplane-like facilities. Gadkari said pilot projects like Metrino pod taxis, hyperloop systems, and pillar-based mass rapid transport are in the pipeline for cities like Delhi and Bengaluru. "Technology and investors are both coming in. It will be a revolution," he said. The minister said, "Eleven companies, including Tata, Toyota, Hyundai and Mahindra, have agreed to build flex-fuel engine vehicles that will reduce dependence on fuel imports as well as fossil fuel." Flex-fuel vehicles are equipped with internal combustion engines that can operate on more than one fuel. They are primarily meant to run on ethanol and methanol or a blend of biofuels and on conventional fuels such as petrol or diesel. Gadkari said India is working on 25,000 km of road upgrades for converting two-lane roads into four-lanes and "we plan to build 100 km of roads per day - this is our target, not a declaration," he clarified. The length of national highways was 91,287 km in 2013-14 and there has been an increase of about 60 per cent in the length of NHs to 1,46,204 km, he said. The length of National High-Speed Corridors (HSC) has expanded from 93 km in 2014 to 2,474 km at present, he said. New technologies, like precast construction, three-ft road barriers, and AI-based road safety tools, including drones and camera monitoring systems, are being introduced to boost efficiency and safety. "We plan to plant 20-25 crore trees along highways, with an aim to transplant old trees and replant five for every one cut." Talks for a tree bank are in advanced stages with the Ministry of Environment and once a go-ahead is received, full-fledged work will start, the minister said. Speaking about electric rapid transport, Gadkari said a tender has been floated for a 135-seater electric bus in Nagpur as a pilot project. The bus will feature executive-class seating, air-conditioning, and airline-grade amenities, capable of running at speeds of 120-125 km/hr. It will recharge in 30-40 minutes at designated stops and is expected to cost 30 per cent less than traditional diesel buses while offering significantly lower emissions, he said. "Once the trial is successful, we plan to introduce similar buses pan-India, including on routes like Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Dehradun, Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Jaipur, Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Aurangabad and Bangalore-Chennai, among others," he added. As many as 670 roadside amenities have already been approved, aimed at providing world-class facilities for both travellers and drivers across national highways, he said. The minister said India's transport sector contributes nearly 40 per cent to the country's air pollution, and emphasised that green mobility initiatives will not only help curb emissions but also significantly reduce the nation's annual fuel import bill of around Rs 22 lakh crore. He further claimed that improved road infrastructure will help bring down logistics costs from 14 per cent of GDP to 9 per cent by the end of the year, enhancing overall economic efficiency. PTI
