en.Wedoany.com Reported - India's Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced at the Prawaas 5.0 Public Transport Exhibition that India has surpassed Japan to become the world's third largest automobile industry, but also noted that the country needs to significantly enhance its bus manufacturing capacity to meet the rapidly growing demand for public transport.
Gadkari stated that when he took office, India's automobile industry was valued at approximately 140 trillion rupees, ranking seventh globally. Today, the sector has not only risen to third place but has also become one of the largest contributors to the Indian economy. According to him, the industry now contributes nearly 45 trillion rupees in revenue to the central and state governments and provides employment for about 45 million people.
In the public transport sector, Gadkari pointed out that India needs nearly 300,000 buses nationwide, but the current domestic industry annual production capacity is only 70,000 to 80,000 units. This capacity gap highlights the urgency of expanding production.
Regarding electric mobility, Gadkari mentioned that the cost of lithium-ion batteries has dropped from about $150 per kilowatt-hour to approximately $50, making electric mobility solutions increasingly economically viable. He added that India is also investing in next-generation battery chemistry technologies, including aluminum-ion, zinc-ion, and sodium-ion technology pathways. In terms of passenger safety, recent bus fire incidents have prompted the government to push for improved engineering standards and the implementation of stricter safety measures.
Gadkari also introduced the government's efforts to optimize the business environment, reducing vehicle approval time from 16 weeks to 6 weeks. Additionally, the government is developing five-star bus stations, including construction projects in Tirupati and Katra, and continues to invest in highways, tunnels, and bridges to build a safer and more efficient transportation system.
