Gadkari calls for quality over cost, says petrol-diesel vehicles have no future

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari made a strong pitch for accelerating India’s shift away from fossil-fuel-powered mobility, declaring there is “no future” for diesel and petrol engines while urging the automobile industry to prioritise quality over cost.

Speaking at an industry event, Gadkari said rising fuel imports and pollution concerns make the transition to alternative energy inevitable, stressing that India’s dependence on fossil fuels poses both economic and environmental challenges.

“One thing which is very clear – there is no future for diesel and petrol engines,” he said, calling on manufacturers to adopt alternatives such as biofuels and cleaner technologies.

The minister emphasised that the transport sector must focus on cost-effective, pollution-free and indigenous solutions as India modernises mobility and expands public transport infrastructure.

Alongside advocating cleaner fuels, Gadkari delivered a strong message to bus manufacturers on quality standards, stating that the industry should be “quality-centric, not cost-centric,” and asserting that safety and quality cannot be compromised.

He urged manufacturers to raise standards and warned against cutting corners to reduce costs, noting that consumers increasingly prefer better-quality products over cheaper options.

Drawing an analogy, Gadkari said customers do not choose inferior products simply because they cost less, highlighting that comfort, reliability and safety are becoming central to mobility expectations.

He also pointed out that bus manufacturing in India needs to match international benchmarks, noting that the country currently has only two buses per 1,000 people compared to a global benchmark of eight.

India manufactures around 70,000 buses annually, with the segment generating a turnover of about Rs 35,000 crore. Gadkari added that demand for electric buses alone could reach 1.5 lakh units over the next three years, signalling a major growth opportunity for the sector.

At the same time, he raised concerns over the quality of buses being supplied, suggesting that some manufacturers continue to win orders despite products not meeting expected standards due to strong demand.

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