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Gadkari Launches India’s First Hydrogen Highways

2025-10-06

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced the launch of India’s first hydrogen highways at the inaugural World Hydrogen India event on 26 September 2025. The initiative is aimed at reducing dependence on crude imports, currently at 87 per cent, and creating a clean mobility ecosystem.

The project includes large-scale hydrogen truck trials across ten routes with 37 vehicles, supported by Rs 500 crore allocated to five consortia, including Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Volvo, BPCL, IOCL, NTPC, and Reliance. Nine hydrogen refuelling stations will be set up to support the corridors, covering key routes connecting ports, freight hubs, and industrial clusters.

Gadkari said the initiative targets 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, generating 6 lakh jobs and attracting Rs 8 lakh crore in investment. The transition is expected to cut fossil fuel imports by Rs 1 lakh crore annually and reduce CO₂ emissions by 3.6 gigatons by 2050.

Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant highlighted hydrogen’s role in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors and positioning India as a global leader in green energy.

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