NEW DELHI: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that electric vehicle (EV) prices in India are expected to match the cost of petrol vehicles within four to six months, highlighting the economic and environmental pressures of India’s Rs 22 lakh crore annual fuel import bill.“Within the next 4-6 months, the cost of electric vehicles will be equivalent to the cost of petrol vehicles,” Gadkari said at the 20th FICCI Higher Education Summit 2025, as quoted by PTI.He also outlined his vision for India’s automobile sector saying, “Within five years, our target is to make India’s automobile industry the number 1 in the world.” Gadkari noted the sector’s growth under his tenure, saying, “When I took charge as transport minister, the size of the Indian automobile industry was Rs 14 lakh crore. The size of the Indian automobile industry now is Rs 22 lakh crore.”Currently, the US leads with an automobile industry worth Rs 78 lakh crore, followed by China at Rs 47 lakh crore, while India stands at Rs 22 lakh crore.The union minister highlighted additional initiatives supporting sustainable energy, noting that farmers earned an extra Rs 45,000 crore through ethanol production from corn. He also announced, “We have initiated a programme under which we aim to use the entire segregated solid waste in the country in road construction by 2027, thereby creating value from waste.”Meanwhile, on education, Gadkari emphasised the importance of India’s young, skilled workforce, calling it a key national advantage. “This is a big strength of India, and by using this strength, if we are successful in giving them the right education, right skills, then we can move ahead in the world,” he said.He urged higher education institutions to integrate successful innovative technologies into their curriculum and practical applications, enhancing planning for the future.
About the Author
