Minister says a smart transportation study is being conducted on Bangalore traffic congestion
A Rs.12,000 crore tunnel to connect Ladakh and Leh is coming up while an IITian led pilot-project for developing funicular railway in the mountainous region is on the anvil, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has informed students at the IIT Bombay.
A study is also being conducted for a smart transportation solution for traffic congestions in Bangalore, he said on 29 Oct 2022, urging the IIT students to focus their researches on new technologies for transport sector.
He highlighted a potential to run 10 lakh electric buses, comprising of double-decker, AC and luxury buses, especially now that the electric vehicles have become popular in the country.
There are 400 start-ups in the country working for electric vehicles, he added.
Encouraging the students, he pointed out that a lot of successful start-ups have started from IITs.
He also wants the students to focus their research on use of bio-technology for production of bio-CNG, bio-LNG and green hydrogen from bio-mass.
“We are moving towards use of green hydrogen at a large scale,” he said at Alankar-2022, a global leadership summit organized by Shailesh J Mehta School of Management in IIT Bombay.
“We require prioritizing needs-based research,” he added.
Researchers should come up with import substitute, cost-effective, pollution free, indigenous solutions.
Proven technology, economic viability, availability of raw materials and marketability should be considered for all research projects, he said.
Gadkari elaborated on some of the ongoing projects:
Ethanol production from bamboo has started in Assam.
IOCL Panipat is producing 150 tonne bio-bitumen per day from rice straw (paralli), an agro-waste product which is the major cause of air-pollution in Delhi and neighbouring areas in the winters. The project is also generating 1 lakh litre bio-ethanol. Besides, 5 tonnes of paralli also gives 1 tonne bio-CNG at the IOCL plant.
Speaking about alternative fuel-based transport, Gadkari stated that companies in India are already making motor-cycles and scooters to run on bio-ethanol fuel. fiinews.com
