Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed a groundbreaking mobility strategy, spanning urban hyperloop corridors, electric buses, and ropeway networks across India. The plan envisions ropeways, cable cars, and funicular railways in 360 locations, including Kedarnath with 60 projects already underway, each costing between ₹200 cr and ₹5,000 cr.
A key highlight is the Nagpur pilot for a 135‑seater electric bus, boasting executive seating, air‑conditioning, airline‑grade amenities, speeds up to 125 km/h, and a rapid 30–40 minute flash‑charging time at around 30% lower cost than diesel equivalents and much cleaner. In metropolitan hubs like Delhi and Bengaluru, trial projects for Metrino pod-taxis, pillar‑based rapid transit and hyperloop systems are being considered.
Beyond futuristic rides, the roadmap includes upgrading 25,000 km of two‑lane highways to four lanes and accelerating construction to 100 km/day, complemented by AI-powered safety tools, roadside amenities, and a “tree bank” effort to plant 20–25 crore trees along highways. Eleven automakers, including Tata, Toyota, Hyundai, and Mahindra, are set to produce flex-fuel vehicles, reducing dependence on fossil fuel imports and curbing emissions from a sector that currently accounts for nearly 40% of national air pollution.
Gadkari asserts this “mobility revolution” will bolster connectivity, cut logistics costs from 14% of GDP to 9%, and enhance sustainable transit in both urban and remote regions.
