At the recent BS Manthan 2026 hosted by Business Standard, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari outlined a bold roadmap to transform India’s mobility and infrastructure landscape by 2047.
Gadkari emphasized that artificial intelligence will play a central role in modernising India’s road infrastructure. From AI-driven project monitoring to automated toll collection systems, technology is being deployed to improve transparency, speed up construction and reduce congestion across national highways.
Electric vehicles (EVs) are another key pillar of this transformation. With EV sales witnessing strong growth and lithium-ion battery prices steadily declining, Gadkari indicated that the upfront cost of electric vehicles could soon match petrol and diesel vehicles. Lower running and maintenance costs are expected to accelerate adoption, positioning India as a global automotive powerhouse.
Hydrogen also emerged as a strategic priority. Gadkari highlighted efforts to reduce the cost of green hydrogen significantly, aiming to make it an affordable and viable fuel option for heavy transport and commercial vehicles. This move aligns with India’s broader sustainability and energy independence goals.
However, the minister also underscored the urgent need to improve road safety. With a high number of annual road fatalities, he stressed better driver training, stronger enforcement and improved infrastructure design.
India’s 2047 vision, he said, will be built on innovation, sustainability and execution efficiency — creating a transport ecosystem that is faster, greener and globally competitive.
