New Delhi, 21 April (H.S.):

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari stated Tuesday that the government is rapidly transforming India's transport ecosystem into a modern, safe, and sustainable framework. The core objective: slash imports, deliver affordable pollution-free transport, and foster indigenous solutions.

Speaking at the Indian Federation of Green Energy's (IFGE) 'Green Transport Conclave: Accelerating Towards Sustainable and Green Mobility's Future' at India Habitat Centre, Gadkari highlighted India's 87% fuel import dependency costing ₹22 lakh crore annually. West Asia tensions amplify this vulnerability; self-reliance is paramount.

New technology breeds industry insecurity, yet import cuts remain daunting, he noted. Two intractable factors—exploding population and automobile numbers—persist. Four people per household, yet 7-8 vehicles.

Scrap policy yields results amid mounting waste. Recycling aluminium, copper, plastic, rubber, and steel slashes automobile costs by 30%, boosting two-wheeler exports where domestic firms already ship 50% production. This employment powerhouse supports 4.5 crore youth, leads GST revenue, and dominates exports—propelling India's economic superpower ambitions.

Pollution demands urgent action. Economy, ecology, ethics—any collapse spells disaster. Harness knowledge and waste for prosperity, creating cascading pathways to sustainable development.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar