India’s transport landscape is on the cusp of a radical transformation, with Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari laying out a sweeping plan that includes hyperloop corridors, high-speed electric buses, and ropeways to connect remote locations.
The Union Minister outlined a bold, multi-pronged vision for next-generation mass mobility, combining sustainability with innovation. From hyperloop systems in metros to funicular railways in hilly terrain, the roadmap seeks to revolutionise both urban and rural travel.
“We are driving innovation. A revolution in mass mobility is underway,” Gadkari said, stressing the scale and urgency of the effort. “Work is progressing at a war footing to transform how India travels, with a focus not just on metropolises but also on remote, inaccessible rural areas.”
The minister revealed that work is underway on 60 of the 360 planned ropeway, cable car and funicular railway projects, with sites including Kedarnath. These projects are estimated to cost between ₹200 crore and ₹5,000 crore.
Funicular railways, which combine elevator and railway technologies, will help ferry people and goods efficiently up steep inclines—particularly valuable in mountainous regions.
Gadkari emphasised that upgraded transport infrastructure would significantly boost the economy, generate employment, and reduce India's massive logistics costs, which currently stand at 14 per cent of GDP. “I am more than confident that in a year’s time, our highways will match the standard and quality of US roads that I have been emphasising,” he said.
India has already scaled up its highway development, upgrading 25,000 km of two-lane highways into four lanes and aiming to construct 100 km of roads per day.
He said pilot projects involving Metrino pod taxis, pillar-based rapid transport and even hyperloop systems are being explored for cities like Delhi and Bengaluru. “Technology and investors are both coming in. It will be a revolution,” he declared.
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Gadkari said a tender has been floated in Nagpur for an electric bus with airline-grade amenities. “The 135-seater bus will be air-conditioned, offer executive seating, and reach speeds of up to 125 km/hr. It will recharge in 30–40 minutes and cost 30 per cent less than diesel buses,” he said.
Once proven, similar buses are planned for high-volume routes such as Delhi-Chandigarh, Delhi-Dehradun, Mumbai-Pune, and Bangalore-Chennai.
The government is also working with major automakers including Tata, Toyota, Mahindra, and Hyundai to build flex-fuel vehicles, designed to run on ethanol and methanol blends, reducing reliance on fuel imports.
“Eleven companies have agreed to build flex-fuel engine vehicles that will reduce dependence on fuel imports as well as fossil fuel,” Gadkari confirmed.
New technologies such as precast road construction, AI-powered safety tools, drones, camera surveillance, and three-foot-high road barriers are also being deployed to increase safety and efficiency.
A nationwide plan to plant 20–25 crore trees along highways is in the pipeline, with a “tree bank” concept being discussed with the Ministry of Environment. “We aim to transplant old trees and replant five for every one cut,” the minister said.
To enhance commuter experience, 670 roadside amenities have already been approved across national highways to offer rest, food, fuel and sanitation facilities.
Gadkari noted that the transport sector contributes nearly 40 per cent to India’s air pollution. By accelerating electric and alternative fuel transport, the government hopes to cut down significantly on India’s annual fuel import bill of ₹22 lakh crore.
“Green mobility initiatives will not only help curb emissions but also significantly reduce the nation’s energy dependence,” he said, adding that the goal is to bring down logistics costs to 9 per cent of GDP by year-end.
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