Nagpur Producing 28 Tonnes of CNG Daily from Waste, Says Gadkari

Nagpur is generating 28 tonnes of compressed natural gas (CNG) every day from waste, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday, pointing to a nationwide push to turn refuse into fuel. Around 4,000 similar projects are being taken up across the country, he said.

Gadkari was speaking at a programme in Madhya Pradesh after launching the state's new public bus service alongside Chief Minister Mohan Yadav. Such waste-to-fuel initiatives, he said, would give farmers an additional source of income while cutting both imports and pollution.

Ethanol cited as a model

Holding up ethanol as an example of how alternative fuels can lift farm incomes and reduce dependence on petroleum imports, Gadkari said maize prices had climbed from roughly ₹1,200 per quintal to ₹2,600 per quintal once ethanol production began.

"Today, the farmer is not only our 'anna data' (food provider) but also our 'urja data' (energy provider)," he said, describing the shift as the meaning of swadeshi, self-reliance and independence.

Import bill in focus

India imports petroleum worth about ₹22 lakh crore, the minister said, calling for greater use of domestic and cleaner fuel sources to bring that dependence down.

He said flex-fuel engines capable of running on 100 per cent ethanol were under development and vehicles using the technology would be introduced. Electric vehicles were also being promoted, while hydrogen-powered vehicles remained in development. "I travel in a hydrogen vehicle. Its name is Mirai, which means future," he said.

Hydrogen buses, safer transport

Hydrogen buses are to be introduced on 10 routes, Gadkari said, adding that the new Madhya Pradesh service would offer safer, more affordable and accountable transport, particularly for poorer sections of society.

"Poor people should get facilities. They should get better facilities in AC buses and the ticket fare should be 30 per cent lower than that of diesel buses. This is our dream," he said.

The government wants public transport to become more popular in India, he said, noting that the transport sector accounts for a substantial share of pollution. Several measures are being worked on to improve bus safety and quality, including stricter testing requirements before registration.

Buses are also to be made more accessible for persons with disabilities and senior citizens, with designs that allow easier boarding, he said. The government is promoting the scrapping of old vehicles and expanding the network of vehicle scrapping and testing centres.

In Madhya Pradesh, 32 driving centres have been started to address a shortage of trained drivers, Gadkari said.