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(and its weight), since it had to be accommodated on a small said. “Hyundai, Suzuki, and Toyota, all have promised me that
craft that would be operated late into the night. This was resolved they are in the process. But Toyota is making a hybrid-electric flex
by adopting the opportunity charging system tried by electric engine and it will be launched within six months.”
buses in Europe. We are using LTO batteries – which are the safest According to Gadkari, these new cars will boost demand for INFRASTRUCTURE
batteries available commercially. ethanol in the country 10-fold. “Presently, we are manufacturing
A major part of the total project cost of `819 crore is being 400 crore litres of ethanol and now after flex engine, our
financed under the Indo-German Financial Cooperation, with a requirement will be 4,000 crore litres,” he said.
long-term loan agreement of €85 million (`579 crore) with KfW India’s top two-wheeler makers are ready with their engines.
(Kreditanstault fur Weideraufbou), a German funding agency. “The flexi-fuel engine is for two-wheelers. Bajaj, TVS, and Hero have
By making use of canals and backwaters, the water metro would already manufactured the flex engine. The choice is that the
open up new possibilities in public transport. And by maintaining consumer can use 100% petrol or 100% bio-ethanol,” he added.
safety, punctuality and comfort levels, it would offer an attractive Listing the achievements of the roads ministry, Gadkari said, “We
transport option. have now already made three world records. The first is 38 km
of highway construction per day, the highest in the world. The
NITIN GADKARI: GOVERNMENT TO BETTER WORLD second is constructing 2.5 km of four-lane cement concrete road
RECORD IN HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION THIS MONTH within 24 hours on Delhi-Mumbai express highway in Vadodara.
The government will better its own world records in highway A third record is making 26 km single-lane road in 22 hours in
construction this month itself, said road transport and highways Solapur-Bijapur section.” Gadkari said he will be launching a pilot
minister Nitin Gadkari, pledging a target of more than 50 km a project for green hydrogen in the national capital. “The car is from
day. Infrastructure projects undertaken by his ministry have been Toyota, and the green hydrogen is from Indian Oil (research and
feted in the recent state polls, Gadkari said at the Economic Times development centre), Faridabad,” the minister said. “This will be
Global Business Summit (GBS) on Saturday. The ministry has already the first car running on Indian roads through green hydrogen.”
set three world records, including 38 km of highway construction
per day, Gadkari said. COMMUTING BETWEEN SOUTH MUMBAI AND THANE TO
“Now we want to go up to 50 km per day,” he said. “Before March GET EASIER WITH EXTENSION OF EASTERN FREEWAY
2022, last year’s record will be bettered. There are some issues Eastern Freeway Extension: Soon, travelling between South
regarding land acquisition due to Covid-19 but we will try to make Mumbai and Thane to get easier for the public! In the coming
the record higher than last year.” days, one will be able to travel to Thane from South Mumbai and
India will soon have a car running on green hydrogen and vice versa directly using the eastern freeway without the need of
automobile manufacturers have committed to produce flexible- getting down at the Eastern Express Highway.
fuel vehicles optimised for domestic requirements in six months, The Eastern Freeway will be extended from the Mumbai
Gadkari said in a conversation with ET’s Bodhisatva Ganguli at the Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) from
seventh edition of GBS held virtually. Chheda Nagar junction to Thane via an elevated road through
Demand for Ethanol Ramabai Colony, Kamraj Nagar as well as Ghatkopar, according
“After the election, everyone was talking about the excellent to an IE report. There are two north – bound lanes as well as two
infrastructure developed by the government under the Prime south – bound lanes in Eastern Freeway and at present, it starts
Minister’s leadership, in Uttarakhand,” he said, noting that the from South Mumbai’s P D’mello Road and ends at Shivaji Nagar
government does not discriminate against anybody on the in Chembur.
political level. According to the officials of the Mumbai Metropolitan Region
Commenting on the outcome of assembly election results in Development Authority, initially, the road from Shivaji Nagar was
which the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has emerged victorious in meant to be extended till Ghatkopar. However, the plan was
four of the five states that went to the polls, Gadkari said that they deferred as it would have led to the destruction of mangroves.
are an indication of the people’s mind. Besides, there was also a large slum pocket that was coming in
“Indian politics previously was dominated by three Cs – caste, the way of the road project but now, the issue has been resolved,
criminal and cash,” he said. “But this election indicates that the report added.
people are committed and giving vote, not on the basis of caste, Recently, the Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority
religion, language, and sex, but for development.” announced that the Minister of Tourism and Environment of
The minister said he had spoken with the heads of all major Maharashtra Aaditya Thackeray inaugurated the improvement
automobile manufacturers on flexi-fuel engines. and beautification works at Kalanagar, Bandra (East) completed
“They have promised me that they will manufacture flex engines by the authority. According to MMRDA, North Plaza, South Plaza
and that they are all in the process,” he said. “The automobile and Island Plaza- these three islands were developed in an area
manufacturers have assured me that they (will) make the required of about 2828 square meters. It has fountains ranging from 2 feet
changes within six months and will be ready.” high to 8 feet high, underground tanks for rain water harvesting,
Gadkari said that the ideal next stage would be an electric hybrid various types of flowering plants, etc., the authority further stated.
flex engine. “This means that it will be run on 100% bio-ethanol; in Also, in addition, the pillars of the flyover have been painted in
emergency, it will run on 100% petrol. And at the same time, 40% various colors. Moreover, sculpture, seating granite benches and
will run on electricity. This is to be a win-win combination,” Gadkari proper use of space have been made under the flyover, it stated.

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