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India is taking giant strides towards sustainability with its ambitious plan to establish the nation’s maiden electric highway. Nitin Gadkari, the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, has been a staunch advocate of this avant-garde project, envisioning the electric artery to span between Delhi and Jaipur.
Pioneering Electric Highways: A Game-Changer for India
Speaking in New Delhi, Minister Nitin Gadkari illuminated the government’s intention to champion electric highways, emphasizing its economical feasibility. He reminisced about his aspiration to forge the groundbreaking electric highway connecting Delhi and Jaipur.
In a revelation at the ACMA annual meet, Gadkari highlighted, “The plan for the electric highway is straightforward. NHAI will grant the right of way. Today’s fruitful dialogue with the Power Ministry has left me optimistic about securing electricity at an affordable rate of ₹ 3.50 per unit, in stark contrast to the prevalent commercial rate of ₹ 11 per unit.”
He further elucidated the Power Ministry’s capacity to supply electricity to a government enterprise at reduced rates. Championing the economic viability of the electric highway, Gadkari announced, “We will open the doors for private sector investors willing to contribute to this monumental initiative.”
Elaborating on the project’s logistics, he explained that the responsibility of electric cable construction would fall upon private investors. In return, the NHAI plans to levy an electric tariff akin to the toll system.
The Mechanics Behind Electric Highways
Mirroring the technology utilized by railway systems, electric highways offer electric traction to vehicles. Countries like Sweden and Norway have already mastered this technology, which primarily relies on power cables. Vehicles compatible with this technology can harness power from these cables for movement. Currently, India’s ministry is assessing a range of technologies to find the perfect fit.
Gadkari excitedly declared, “Nagpur will be the birthplace of our pilot electric highway project.”
Highlighting India’s robust economic growth, Gadkari lauded the nation’s automotive sector, terming it as India’s crown jewel. Under his stewardship since 2014, the automotive industry’s valuation has skyrocketed from ₹ 4.15 lakh crore to an astounding ₹ 12.50 lakh crore.
The minister concluded by underscoring the escalating fossil fuel imports, reiterating the urgency for India to unearth a sustainable solution.
In a nutshell, the advent of the electric highway in Nagpur is not merely a testament to India’s infrastructural prowess but also its unwavering commitment to a greener future.