Union Minister Nitin Gadkari talks about measures to boost electric vehicle production, assures govt support to lockdown-battered MSME sector, says the govt has taken several steps for benefit of farmers, and lays out details of a multi-modal hub in Nagpur.
He explains that the most important development for the country is infrastructure development… In my office in Delhi, we have put up a statement by former American President John F Kennedy: ‘American roads are not good because America is rich. But America is rich because American roads are good.’ Prosperity comes from roads. India has a huge potential for infrastructure development. We have the potential of making at least 300 airports. We have already completed 100 new airports. We can launch seaplanes. The service is already available in Gujarat at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel statue (Statue of Unity in Kevadia in Narmada district) … And, we can convert our rivers, lakes and dams into water ports. This is going to encourage tourism, and will go on to provide employment
Talking about the large-scale production of electric vehicles (EVs), he says that already a lot of people, small companies are making e-bikes and e-scooters in Uttar Pradesh and other states in India. The crucial problem with EVs is the lithium-ion battery. Now, we are encouraging people to make in India and ‘Made in India’. The important thing is that a lot of research is going on to make aluminium-ion (batteries) and other new alternatives. I am confident that in some time we will get a lot of new alternatives, and soon EVs will be the future of the country.
Already there is a lot of sale of electric buses, like in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur etc. They are there at airports too. Even an electric tractor is now in the process of being manufactured. One of the leading companies wants to launch an electric truck. Just 20 days ago, I launched a JCB on CNG. So, a lot of change is going on and we are a hundred per cent certain that it will be a very cost-effective import substitute, and will also be pollution-free and indigenous. We are already in the process of making (vehicle) scrapping policy. With the scrapping policy, I am confident that in the next five years India will be the number one manufacturing hub in the world.
Tesla is preparing to start operations in India by early 2021. I am sure that there are a lot of EVs which are equal to Tesla from the technology point of view. Indian manufacturers are doing a lot of research and changes. In due course, you will get electric cars which will be equal to Tesla. I am confident of that, and the cost will be very less too.
(With inputs from agencies)