Won’t ban petrol, diesel vehicles, says Nitin Gadkari

NEW DELHI: Automobile industry must make the transition to cleaner sources of fuel at the earliest, minister of road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday.

Gadkari said there is a concern that the government will ban internal combustion engine (ICE)-vehicles, but it is well aware of the contribution that India’s automobile industry is making to the country’s exports and employment.

“There is speculation on banning the existing industry, but we are not doing it. We understand that it contributes to the country’s exports and employment, but the switch over must happen at the earliest and (manufacturers must) move to electric, biofuel,” Gadkari said during the discussion on demand for grants for 2019-20 in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.