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In his keynote speech at Busworld India Conclave 2025 on Tuesday, 28, 2026, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said that petrol and diesel vehicles have no long-term future in India. Speaking in support of cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions, the minister urged the automobile industry to accelerate its transition towards alternative fuel options such as biofuels, CNG, LNG, hydrogen, and electric vehicles. In his speech, he strongly advocated for reducing dependence on fossil fuels and improving the country’s public transport infrastructure.

 

 

 

Addressing the audience, Gadkari clearly stated, “There is no future for diesel and petrol vehicles,” stressing the urgent need for the automobile sector to adopt greener technologies. He explained that petrol and diesel not only create serious environmental concerns but also increase India’s dependence on fuel imports, which places a significant burden on the economy. According to him, shifting to cleaner fuel alternatives will help reduce pollution, strengthen energy security, and lower transportation costs in the long run. The minister highlighted several cleaner fuel options currently being promoted by the government, including biofuels, compressed natural gas (CNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG), ethanol-based flex-fuel systems, and electric powertrains.

 

He also revealed that the government has already initiated pilot projects focused on hydrogen mobility. Major automobile manufacturers such as Tata Motors, Volvo, Ashok Leyland, and Mahindra & Mahindra are actively participating in hydrogen fuel trials. “We are now on 10 routes where we are running hydrogen trucks and buses. Hydrogen is the fuel of the future,” Gadkari said.

 

 

Speaking further on flex-fuel technology, the minister underlined the importance of ethanol as a major alternative fuel source. He pointed out that India has strong potential to produce ethanol from multiple agricultural feedstocks, making it a practical and scalable solution. He also noted that the automotive industry is already working on flex-fuel engines while vehicles continue operating on E20 fuel, which contains 20 percent ethanol blending. This transition is expected to support both the agricultural and automotive sectors while reducing the country’s dependence on imported crude oil.

 

 

Apart from fuel transition, Gadkari also addressed safety concerns related to public transport, especially buses. He reiterated the government’s commitment to improving safety standards across the transportation sector. He announced that bus registrations will now require uploading on the Vahan portal along with physical and video approvals. This move replaces the earlier self-certification system used by bus manufacturers. The minister urged all bus body manufacturers and OEMs to prioritise quality, passenger safety, and comfort instead of focusing only on reducing production costs.

 

With the demand for electric buses expected to reach 150,000 units over the next three years and the current manufacturing capacity standing at nearly 70,000 buses annually, the shift towards safer and cleaner public transport is becoming increasingly important. Gadkari’s strong message signals a clear roadmap for India’s automotive future—one driven by sustainability, innovation, and cleaner mobility solutions.