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.