The Indian Government is planning an electric highway between Delhi and Mumbai: Nitin Gadkari
Speaking at an event, union minister Nitin Gadkari said that the government is planning an electric highway between Mumbai and Delhi. An electric highway is a road that provides electricity to vehicles, usually through overline cables.
The road transport ministry is going to spend about ₹ 2.5 lacs crore on an electric highway that will ease the transport of EVs between Delhi and Mumbai. Three years ago Germany launched the first electric highway near Frankfurt. It allows hybrid cargo trucks to recharge their batteries while travelling. The proposed project between Delhi and Mumbai will enable motor vehicles to get charged while on the move. Generally, an overhead network of electricity lines is laid, which helps in powering the on-road vehicles.
“We plan to make an electric highway between Delhi and Mumbai. Just like a trolleybus, you can run trolley trucks also”, Gadkari said. The government is said to be in talks with a foreign firm for its construction.
Noting that pollution is a big concern, Mr Gadkari said, “I request heavy vehicle owners to use alternative fuel like ethanol, methanol and green hydrogen as they are cost-effective and import substitutes.” The minister admitted that heavy vehicle owners are facing problems because of corruption in state Regional Transport Offices (RTOs).
“So, we have to digitise all services provided by RTOs,” he added.
At present Berlin has the longest stretch of Electric Highway which is 109km long. India will become the home of the longest electric highway after the construction gets completed.
India has pledged to be carbon neutral by 2070, Modi Government is pushing for green alternatives in every field. Mobility is one of the main contributors of greenhouse gases, steps like this can help reduce its carbon footprint.
