Pune: Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday said that automobile industry is being engaged to make more electric vehicles to curtail the damages to environment and curb spending on import of oils.
Launching the first Made in India Mercedes-Benz luxury electric car (580 4Matic) at the company’s Chakan plant in Pune, Maharashtra, he said efforts are being made to transform automobile industry based on alternative fuel. The market price of the electric vehicle comes around ₹1.55 crore.
He said government has policy that is import substitute, cost effective, pollution free and indigenous. The minister reiterated the importance of bio fuels over petrol and diesel as environmental friendly and cost effective.
The minister said we have the highest number of young skilled talented engineers, who are competent and intelligent and will contribute in research and development (in automobile sector). He said automobile industry contributes maximum revenue to state and central governments in from of goods and services tax (GST).
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Talking about vehicle scrapping policy, he said we have 1.02 crore vehicle ready for scrapping but have only 40 units at present. The minister proposed opening of four scrapping units in each district in the country thereby opening 2000 units for smooth scrapping of old and outdated vehicles.
Gadkari also carried out the aerial inspection of NDA (Chandani) Chowk to Ravet/Kiwale section of the NH-48 passing through Pune and Pimpri Municipal Corporation area. The key focus of the inspection was to resolve the traffic related issues along the section and improvement of Wakad junction, Bhumkar Chowk junction, Ravet Junction.
