Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari launched a scathing attack on critics of ethanol-blended petrol on Tuesday, dismissing the recent public outcry against E20 fuel as a “paid campaign” designed to stall India’s transition toward alternative energy.
Speaking at an event organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in New Delhi, the minister strongly defended the government’s ethanol blending program, emphasising its crucial role in slashing foreign exchange outflow and reducing dependence on imported crude oil.
“Three months ago, huge noise (khub halla) was made against E20 fuel; now the rage against E20 fuel is over… It was a paid campaign,” Gadkari stated, addressing industry leaders.
Regulatory Green Light for E100 Flex-Fuel
Gadkari’s remarks came just a day after the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways notified key amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989. The regulatory change formally paves the way for flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on fuel blends containing up to 100% ethanol (E100).
The government and auto sector proponents maintain that bio-ethanol offers a cleaner, domestically produced alternative to imported fossil fuels. Highlighting that over 20 crore two-wheelers and 3 crore passenger cars have already been running on ethanol blends without widespread mechanical failures, Gadkari reaffirmed that boosting ethanol consumption will remain central to India’s energy security strategy.
800 Highway Projects Under Review
Turning his attention to commuter grievances, the minister directly addressed widespread public criticism regarding damaged national highway stretches and toll road maintenance.
Gadkari revealed that after monitoring complaints circulating on social media platforms, he personally reviewed approximately 700 to 800 national highway projects across the country to enforce strict compliance with construction standards.
“I am not going to compromise on the quality of the highways,” Gadkari declared. He assured motorists and transport operators that public inconvenience on national highways would be largely eliminated over the next two years as ongoing corrective measures take full effect.
The minister’s twin assertions signal a firm resolve from the Centre to push forward with aggressive green mobility targets while tightening monitoring protocols across India’s rapidly expanding highway network.
