Petrol and Diesel Free India by 2034?

There is no second thought about the pollution caused by petrol and diesel-powered vehicles in the country. Alternate fuel options like CNG and hydrogen are available, but the world is moving towards electric vehicles for their convenience and futuristic appeal.

Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India, recently highlighted the benefits of electric vehicles in a rally in Himachal Pradesh. The minister said, “I want to eliminate diesel and petrol vehicles from this country within 10 years. Nowadays, electric scooters, cars, and buses are available. While you spend Rs. 100 on diesel, they consume electricity worth Rs. 4.”

The minister shared plans to cut down GST on hybrid vehicles by 5% and on flex-fuel vehicles by 12% to attract consumers towards these sustainable fuel options. Currently, there are 36 crore petrol and diesel vehicles on Indian roads, and the minister plans to reduce this number over the years to come.

Gadkari’s support for biofuel and flex-fuel is well-known, and the minister feels confident about the automotive industry moving in this direction. He also mentioned that Indian automobile manufacturers like Hero, TVS, and Bajaj have initiated manufacturing flex and biofuel-compatible vehicles.

Looking at sales reports from various portals, it is clear that EV sales in the country were significantly higher in April 2024 than in April 2023. The minister wants commercial vehicles to also adopt greener alternatives and move on from polluting diesel and petrol.

These, however, are just plans and hopes. We will have to wait and watch to see exactly what comes down to the ground and how well things are executed in the real world. One thing is certain: diesel and petrol will be ditched one day. Whether that will be in 2034, later, or sooner, only time will tell.