New Delhi: Promoting ethanol-friendly cars, turning river Ganga into a waterway and rolling out 50 stalled road projects are three top agendas that figure prominently in new Transport & Highways and Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari's blueprint to spur infrastructure growth.
Putting in place a “a reward and punishment” system for road construction and building concrete highways are two other focus areas of Gadkari, who assumed charge of Road Transport & Highways and Shipping Ministry today.
“The nation spends Rs 6 lakh crore on imports of petrol, diesel and gas. Huge crude and gas bill is the reason behind rupee depreciation.
“I have asked the department to study whether the five big companies—Volkswagen, Ford, Toyota, Honda and Fiat—can import E85 engine here, like they do in Brazil and Canada,” he said addressing his maiden press conference as the Infrastructure Minister.
E85 engines consume the fuel that is a mix of 85 per cent ethanol and 15 per cent petrol.
He said the ministers concerned will soon hold a meeting with farmers in Petroleum Minister's presence for exploring the possibilities of reviving sick sugar factories so that ethanol is available in abundance.
