No plan to ban petrol, diesel vehicles: Gadkari allays auto sector fears

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday assured the crisis-hit automobile industry of all possible support from the government, including taking up the demand of GST reduction with finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman.
Reiterating that the government would help the industry, the road transport and highways minister also said his ministry would give out 68 road projects worth up to Rs 5 lakh crore in the next three months to help generate demand for commercial vehicles.
With the impending price increase of vehicles and the upcoming of BS VI norms deadline, "it is your (industry's) demand that there should be reduction in tax of petrol and diesel vehicles. Your suggestions are good. I will take your message to the finance minister," Gadkari said at annual SIAM convention in New Delhi.
Even if it (GST) is reduced for some time, it will help, he added.
"I will follow it up with the finance minister. The sector needs help right now to increase vehicle sales," Gadkari said.
The minister said, like the way GST on electric vehicles has been reduced to 5 per cent from 12 per cent, he would propose to the finance ministry to extend the same benefit to hybrids vehicles.
"We have reduced GST in electric vehicles. Now I am trying that GST on hybrid vehicles is also reduced. I am following up regarding this with the finance minister," Gadkari said.
Gadkari, who had in 2017 stated the auto industry would be "bulldozed" if they didn't push for electric vehicles, also struck a reconciliatory note saying that the government has no intention to ban petrol and diesel vehicles.
"There have been talks that government is planning to ban petrol and diesel vehicles. I want to make it clear that the government has no such plan. We are not going to do anything like that," he said.
He also said he would take up a discussion with the finance minister for extending possible export incentives on automobile makers, as has been done for the sugar industry.
ALSO READ: From barbers to shopkeepers, many rural Indians are hurting from auto crash
On award of road contracts, Gadkari said, in the next three months, "we are trying to... award road contracts worth Rs 5 lakh crore. We have selected 68 projects including various expressways... we have already acquired 80 per cent of land for these projects... this would help indirectly the auto industry".
The minister also asked automobile companies to have in-house finance companies to help generate sales.
CII President – Designate, MD and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak also urged automobile manufacturers to give emphasis on exports in order to create additional avenue to overcome the slowdown in the domestic market while stressing that a weaker rupee will make it even more favourable.

ALSO READ: Motown crisis: Contract workers bear the brunt of slowdown in auto sector
Speaking at the event earlier, SIAM President Rajan Wadhera had asked the government to consider reducing GST on automobiles to help it overcome the prolonged slowdown.
He also drew Gadkari's attention for government to consider a single nodal regulatory ministry for the auto industry, which currently comes under several ministers regarding various functions.
With the implementation of BS-VI norms from April next year, Wadhera said Indian auto industry will be at par with the best in the world when it comes to pollution; and therefore restrictions on different vehicles based on fuels must be removed.
ALSO READ: Automobile dealers look for strategies to revive sales, arrest job losses
He also asked the government to support the industry whenever courts decide otherwise.
Wadhera said due to the current downturn, 15,000 contractual jobs have been lost in the automobile manufacturing and around 2.8 lakh in dealerships, while components manufacturers are staring at 1 million job losses if the downturn continues.
Maruti Suzuki India CEO and Managing Director Kenichi Ayukawa, meanwhile, welcomed Gadkari's assurances to help the auto industry and said the industry was eagerly looking forward to concrete steps.

No deadline: Centre allays auto sector's electric vehicle concerns

The government has moved to appease electric vehicle (EV) concerns of the automobile sector, currently in the throes of a slowdown.
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government has set no deadline to ban the production of petrol, diesel vehicles or for automobile manufacturers to switch to EVs. “The shift towards EVs will happen as a natural progression,” he reiterated.

On the same day, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal assured automobile companies that their concerns would be heard on the proposed EV policy. The NITI Aayog is a think tank, not a policy-making body, he said at the 12th Motilal Oswal Annual Global Investor Conference in Mumbai. He was referring to a proposal by the Aayog to ban all three-wheelers with internal combustion engine by 2023, with a ban on all two-wheelers below 150cc following suit by 2025.
According to its analysis, this can reduce energy demand by 2030 to the extent that potentially more than 35 per cent of the carbon emissions from the sector are wiped out.
Automakers have expressed apprehensions over the government’s vigorous push to convert 15 per cent of all vehicle sales in the next five years into electric-powered ones.
At the same time, domestic passenger vehicle sales — a key indicator of the economy — fell for the ninth straight month in July, according to the data from the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam).
The Aayog proposal is backed by its Chief Executive Officer Amitabh Kant, say sources. Kant had called EVs the sunrise sector last month and pushed for investment sops in vehicle and charger manufacturing.
No deadline: Centre allays auto sector's electric vehicle concerns
Over the past year, the government has allowed a number of direct, indirect tax concessions to boost the production and sales of EVs in the country.
In October 2018, the transport ministry granted exemption to battery-operated commercial vehicles that has now led to more than 400,000 such vehicles being registered with the ministry as of August 2019.
In the last annual Budget, the government had announced income-tax rebates of up to Rs 1.5 lakh to customers on interest paid on loans to buy EVs, with total exemption benefit of Rs 2.5 lakh over the entire loan period, in the last Budget.
Also, in July, the goods and services tax (GST) Council, decided to reduce tax rates on EVs and chargers from August 1. The tax rate has been slashed from 12 per cent to 5 per cent on vehicles and from 18 per cent to 5 per cent on EV chargers. At the 36th meeting of the Council, it also approved GST exemption for hiring of buses by local authorities.
According to Siam, commercial vehicle sales fell 25.7 per cent to 56,866 units. Sales of Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest carmaker, plunged 36 per cent in July — the highest fall in two decades.
A sustained slowdown has sparked layoff fears after Maruti Suzuki confirmed it has cut 3,000 jobs, mostly of temporary workers.

Don't aspire to be prime minister, not even remotely, says Nitin Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari Sunday said neither does he have any aspirations nor the RSS any designs to project him as a prime ministerial candidate and asserted that making "calculation" has never been his forte in politics or work.
Amid speculations that he could be the BJP's prime ministerial candidate in case of a fractured mandate in the upcoming general elections, the senior party leader said he was not in the race and stressed that "tireless work" was his mantra.
"I have not done any calculation, never set targets -- neither in politics nor in work. Mai to chala jidhar chale rasta (I follow the path wherever it leads). Jo kaam dikha karta gaya (Accomplished whatever is assigned to me). Believe in doing the best for the country," Gadkari told PTI in an interview.
Seeking to rubbish speculations that he could be the "Prime Minister in the making", the senior minister made it clear that "neither there is anything like this in my mind nor RSS has any such thing. The nation comes supreme for us."
"I do not see dreams, neither I go to anyone nor I do any lobbying. I am not in this race... I my telling you from my heart," the minister at the helm of key infrastructure ministries of the Narendra Modi government said.
Talking further about the speculations, Gadkari, also a former BJP chief, said that he does not know what people are thinking but that he has "nothing to do with it, not even remotely".
Gadkari also asserted that he and his party stood "solidly behind Modiji who is doing very good work".
"Given what work we have done, I feel we will get more seats than the last time under Modiji," he said and termed the 'Mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) of Opposition parties for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls as 'Mahamilawat' (high adulteration).
Earlier this month, he termed speculations about him being in the race for prime minister as "mungeri lal ke haseen sapne" (day dreaming).
On being a favourite with the Opposition members too, Gadkari remarked that whoever came to him, he believed in helping them with a positive attitude. "Whatever maximum I can do I try," he added.
Last month in the Lok Sabha, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi along with other Congress members appreciated Gadkari for the "wonderful" work he has been doing in improving the country's infrastructure.
Describing himself as a "workaholic, Gadkari said massive work has been done by the central government in various sectors, including infrastructure that has seen projects worth over Rs 15 lakh crore.
On whether he felt some tasks could not be completed in the current tenure, Gadkari said there were no regrets as "whatever was there worth working I did... No one is perfect and no one should think he is perfect... One should work relentlessly."

Gadkari is in charge of the road transport and highways; shipping; and water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation ministries.
While viewing politics as a "game of compulsions, limitations and contradictions", the BJP heavyweight from Maharashtra said that anything can happen in politics and cricket.
He exuded confidence that BJP was going to get a thumping majority and increase its seats tally in the upcoming general elections.
Listing out various initiatives of the government, he said the national health insurance scheme has benefited 10 crore families, 1.5 crore houses have been built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana and 6 crore people have got gas cylinders and that the number would go up to 12 crore.
"The poor have got rid of 'chulha and koyla' (traditional stove and coal). Electricity has reached (people) under Ujjwala Yojana" and many obsolete legislations have either been done away with or amended, he emphasised.
Gadkari runs 1,100 Ekal Vidyalayas in extremist-hit areas of Maharashtra. These schools have 21,000 students and 950 teachers.
Besides, he runs "four hospitals on wheels" and has helped in getting artificial limbs from London and Germany for 900 people.
Further, 8,000 heart operations have been done and 1.5 lakh women have been screened with advanced machines brought from the US for breast cancer. Around 3,000 women detected with cancer have been given treatment, he said.
"I (also) do a lot of work in biofuel, organic farming, and work much for villagers especially poor farmers. Good days are coming in biofuel. Apart from my departments, I have done much in other things of my liking. Have got CNG kits for tractors from Poland and using it in one tractor will save Rs 60,000 in a year," the minister said.
A strong supporter of biofuels, Gadkari said biofuel has also been derived from bamboo and is being tested at the Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun. There are also plans for large scale bamboo plantation as part of efforts to produce biofuel.
"We want to work for tribals and if bio-aviation fuel can be derived from these technologies in tribal areas, we can save Rs 30,000 crore," he said, adding that plans are on the anvil to increase the country's ethanol economy from Rs 11,000 crore to Rs 2 lakh crore.
Regarding works to clean Ganga, Gadkari said during his recent visit for 'Kumbh snan' people told him that for the first time in 50 years they found the river "nirmal and aviral" (pure and with continuous flow).

I don't have a track record of making false promises: Nitin Gadkari

As the NDA government enters the final year of its tenure, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari exudes confidences of a doer, minus the showmanship. In his world, everything is doable provided the National Green Tribunal (NGT) and judiciary don’t come in the way. In a lively interaction with Business Standard journalists spread over two hours, the minister of road transport, highways, shipping, water resources, river development and Ganga rejuvenation, shares his achievements and plans. Edited excerpts:
There is a perception that though you have announced several projects, there is a gap on the ground. Do you agree?

I do not have a track record of false promises. I deal with large-size programmes—Rs 1 trillion upwards. Even my party colleagues don’t want to believe (that these projects are getting executed). I have done everything what I have announced but I am helpless if NGT or the courts come in the way. The problem is that people are not used to seeing promises made by politicians materialising. If I say I have saved Rs 160 billion in land acquisition for the Delhi-Mumbai highway which will save 12 hours of journey and cut short the distance by 125 km, people don’t want to believe. But Rs 440 billion worth of contracts for Mumbai-Vadodra have already been awarded. Alignment from Delhi-Jaipur has been finalised. Delhi-Ahmedabad-Mumbai land acquisition would have cost Rs 70 million a hectare but in the backward areas of Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, it will only cost Rs 8 million. Work on it will start in 15 days.
How will you finance the highway projects?
My budget is about Rs 700-750 billion and my toll collection is Rs 100 billion. I have put 40 per cent projects under the hybrid annuity mode where land acquisition will be done by us. We have funded some projects through budgetary support. Of those, 100 were identified and nine have been sold under the TOT (toll, operate, transfer) model. We expected Rs 60 billion but got Rs 100 billion. In the bond market, we can raise Rs 5 trillion. But I’m not raising through bonds but looking at listing of the National Highways Authority of India. Besides, there are more projects that can be monetised for 15 years. I do not need government money.
Is the bullet train competing with the highways?
Our first priority is the waterways. We have planned 10 waterways. I intend to build 111 waterways. I plan to begin work on 34-35 waterways during my tenure. Then comes the Railways and third is roadways.
Three years ago, you had said land acquisition was not a problem. Do you maintain that?
My track record proves that. We have completed Rs 700 billion worth of land acquisition and compensation. We have completed the ring road project in 500 days. We paid Rs 60 billion as compensation. Under the Land Acquisition Act, we are paying 1.5 times more than the market price as compensation in cash.
But the bullet train project is facing land acquisition issues. Isn’t it?
It is because of the railway system. Almost 80 per cent of land acquisition is completed for the Mumbai-Vadodra express highway project.
How will the government execute mega highway projects, logistics parks and expressways with a headless NHAI, which has seen 4 chairmen in the last two years?
In April-May, NHAI has awarded as many projects as it did in the entire 2016-17. In the current financial year, NHAI will award 12,000 km. Appointing or changing the chairman is not in my hands. No matter how the people are, it depends on the leader how he gets the work done.
Was there a need to change the formula for per day road construction?
We have kept both the formulas. We are now following the international norms.
What is the broad action plan for the fifth year in government?
The PM has appointed a committee on the completion of four years of the NDA government and I head it. The first thing I suggested was that we should not make any fresh announcement. We should complete the work started in the last four years and should emphasize on schemes that benefit the public directly. The 48 years of Gandhi family and 48 months of the BJP government should be seen. We don’t claim that we have solved all the problems. Agriculture crisis is still there and we are facing hurdles in giving minimum support price (MSP). Sugar related issues are there, banks do not have enough funds to lend.
When you came to power, you had formed a panel on onion to check prices?
Onion, tomato and potato are related to demand and supply. If we have pre-cooling warehouses for potato and tomatoes and separate storage for onion, we could balance the rate fluctuations with it and price would not rise.
You had earlier said GST was good? What are your views now?
I am not an economy expert. But I can say that it is the biggest reform in the country since Independence. Black money has reduced, companies are getting registered. By and large people are happy. It will reduce corruption.
Why hasn’t the economy picked up yet?
Steel sector was in a mess earlier, now it is better. But crude oil has impacted our economy.
What is your understanding about industrialists?
Everyone is working. There are three types of industrialists: one who just takes money from banks, goes bankrupt and runs away. Such people should be called fraud and strict action should be taken against them. Then there are the ones who have been in business for decades, who have been paying interest to banks and have landed in some trouble due to circumstances. They should be helped if their track record is good. Third, is a cyclical industry such as sugar where prices are low…. When I took charge, 403 highway projects of Rs 3.75 trillion were stuck. With the help of the PM and the finance minister, 22 Cabinet decisions were taken. Today I can say that I saved banks from NPAs of Rs 3 trillion. All projects are working, companies are working fine.
To tackle pollution, you are not comfortable with increasing the number of vehicles on the road. Your comment?
It is a Rs 4 trillion industry with a significant contribution in exports. This is one of the best performing sector. My support is for India to become an auto export hub. I just suggested that they should change with time. We will walk forward either with you or without you, if you resist... Ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG, electric cars should be manufactured.
This government earlier made a plan for 100 per cent electric mobility by 2030 and then later junked it. How will domestic sector scale up?
Any good idea and technology should be promoted. There will soon be rapid work in charging infrastructure.
In electric cars, what you are saying China has already done and they are already going ahead in battery manufacturing. Why is it that India can’t move at the same speed?
In Gujarat, near Vadodara, China’s largest electric car making company has set up a manufacturing unit. The price of lithium-ion battery has come down by 60 per cent since I started talking about it. When volume increases, cost comes down. We have 13 battery manufacturers in India. Research and innovation will shape the sector and bring down prices. I have asked the companies to come forward with whatever fuel technology they have and tell me what clearances they need, what policy support. But nobody has come.
After Walmart bought a controlling stake in Flipkart, retail traders are worried. Your take?
We are in a global economy. We should think global and be Indian from the heart. Small traders will set their own marketing strategy. There will be competition, so they need to package and market well.
Why must you oppose foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail then?
Some decisions are political…. We won’t take a stand that it politically harmful. I am 100 per cent committed to my conviction and I am proud of it….
RSS recently pointed out that the disinvestment process in Air India wouldn’t work. You head the ministers’ group. What’s your view?
I'm not the spokesperson for RSS. But I have talked to the Minister of State for Aviation Jayant Sinha. He told me his concerns and I pointed out what I felt. I told him that taking all issue into account, he should take the right decision which is good for the country.
You said you will set up 2000 river ports. What’s happening there?
There are 111 rivers and 11 major ports in the country. There are another 200 minor ports which are run by state governments and private players. We will bring floating jetty and convert them to passenger and river ports. Other than that in Mumbai itself, in the Eastern and Western river front, 27 ports are being built- approval has been given. From Thane to Virar, 40 ports are being built. There are 60 and 65 ports in Ganga and Brahamaputra. During my regime, around 450-500 river ports will be built. Out of that, work has started on 4 multi modal hubs- Varanasi, Sahibganj, Haldia and Gazipur. Out of that, the one in Varanasi will be completed in October. From Varanasi, one can reach Allahabad. There will be six river ports in Allahabad.
You have said 70-80 per cent of Ganga will be cleaned during your regime. But Yamuna is still dirty. So how will you develop the eco system of clean river?
The work on project for cleansing Yamuna water is going slow. I am also concerned about it. I met the Chief Minister and Governor of Delhi three times about it. … One of the challenges is that nothing has been done regarding solid waste management. Solid waste management work will start soon. Operational maintenance of such projects has been given to the private sector.
What is your plan to tackle water and air pollution in Delhi?
We have already completed a research report. We identified traffic jam spots and the reasons for it. We have prepared a plan for Rs 400 billion and are working on it. The Ring Road which the PM will inaugurate will reduce 27 per cent pollution and 40 per cent traffic jam. It includes Delhi-Meerut Expressway. I feel it is possible…. We are improving on the black spots (accident prone) that have been identified. In Delhi, the problem is of dust, we need vacuum cleaning system. We are working on a Rs 70 billion Dwarka Expressway project. Tender has been allotted. ..For air pollution, we should insist on biofuel and electric. The diesel bus costs Rs 110 /km, ethanol costs Rs 79/km in my city Nagpur and electric Rs 50/km. So we can reduce the ticket price. The problem is all state transport corporations are in losses and no one is willing to finance it. ..We should adopt the London transport model. We have signed agreement with them and the World Bank. According to that model, the driver belongs to the operator and the conductor belongs to the corporation. They will guarantee minimum 225 km a day to the corporation….I am trying my level best as transport minister for this model in all Indian cities. This can also be useful for rural transport. Delhi’s problem also comes from burning of crop residue. The Cabinet has passed biofuel policy under which ethanol will be made from cotton straw, bagasse, rice straw and other agriculture residue.
How’s it dealing with the Delhi government?
The Delhi government is not moving according to my expectation but I am having a dialogue with all stakeholders. Regarding Yamuna, unfortunately the NGT is giving a lot of problems. My plan was to model the 35-km river front on the lines of the reclamation garden in Singapore. The government could finance it partially. It can be like a greenhouse for Delhi. A lot of things like hovercraft service to the Taj Mahal and other such things can be done. However, there are issues being raised by the NGT. My suggestion is that the ministries of environment, urban development and highways, lieutenant governor and the Delhi draw up a plan to make Delhi pollution-free in two to three years. We can take it as a collective responsibility.
When do you think the Motor Vehicle Bill will be passed?
Parliament is not allowed to function. The deputy speaker has promised me in the presence of all leaders that in the next session, the Bill will be tabled in the very first day.
What is the scope of internal dissent and discussion in the working of the government?
There is a scope of discussion…. We are a disciplined party. We discuss, debate and argue but when we come out, we are together in our opinion.
Before the 2019 elections, what is your assessment of the party? And what do you think about the Opposition unity?
People always come together against someone who is strong when they feel they won't be able to defeat you individually. Politics is a game of competitions, permutations and combinations. No one is a permanent friend or enemy in politics. Most politics is played on convenience but mutual relationships should remain nice. …
Are you worried that other political parties are coming together?
The word 'worry' is not in my dictionary.

Don't want to shut manufacturing of petrol, diesel vehicles: Nitin Gadkari

Union road transport and highway minister Nitin Gadkari, who is known for promoting innovative ideas in transportation, created a stir a few months ago when he pitched for electric vehicles by 2030. In an interview with Megha Manchanda and Jyoti Mukul, Gadkari does not rue his ministry's losing control over the Central Road Fund and says electric vehicles will drive the growth of the auto industry. Edited Excerpts.
The Central Road Fund has now become Central Road and Infrastructure fund whose allocation has now spread to more sectors. How will you ensure that road sector is sufficiently funded?
The revenue collected in the fund will be distributed to the respective sectors. In the previous National Democratic Alliance government under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, when I was a minister in the Maharashtra government, I had approached the Centre for building some roads in the state. At that time the question of funding those projects was raised and then it was decided the Centre would levy a cess on petrol and diesel and the revenue collected would be given to the Road Ministry and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for their projects. Later, the Railways and states were added to the list of beneficiaries from the levy and each sector was earmarked a share from the cess kitty. We also wanted to include inland waterways in that list and proposed amendments to the National Waterways Act. The proposal has been approved by the Lok Sabha and is pending in the Rajya Sabha.
Now, a committee under the finance minister will decide the allocation from the CRIF. We hope we will continue to get funds for the projects on which work has already begun.
The FM had also announced an SPV (special purpose vehicle) for NHAI's road assets. How will this be structured?
We have 105 highway contracts that can be monetised to raise Rs 1,250 billion. The funds collected via monetisation will be kept in an SPV, to be utilised for NHAI projects.
How effectively have you been able to increase the pace of road construction? What is your target for next year?
We will achieve 28 km per day by March-end. We want to get to 40 km per day target next year and should be able to achieve it. We want to have 200,000 km of national highways.
Is land acquisition still a challenge?
There are some people who convert challenges into opportunities. We have already acquired land worth Rs 680 billion and are paying farmers well, so there is no problem in land acquisition.
The road ministry had sought extra budgetary support of Rs 250 billion for promotion of transportation and transport technology and for providing last-mile connectivity by improving public transport. However, that has found no mention in Union Budget 2018-19...
A part of the Rs 710 billion allocated to us under budgetary support will be used to towards modernise transport and transportation services. We are looking at building bus ports on the lines of airports. Most major cities in the country have bus ports. By utilising commercial land, we can develop air-conditioned bus ports with other amenities, such as hotels, parking spaces etc.
These projects could either be built on EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) or PPP (public-private-partnership) depending on their viability.
Do you think electric vehicles should be made mandatory?
If the commuting cost for the public comes down then I do not need to market the idea. In India, automobile manufacturing is a big business with huge exports. We don't want petrol and diesel vehicle manufacturing to stop. At the same time, if we bring in new technology, we get sustainable transportation and our exports will further increase.
Pollution free, import substitute, cost-effectiveness and indigenous production is our philosophy.
How do you bring the cost of EVs down?
An electric bus costs Rs 10 million. When we got solar energy, it cost us around Rs 16.5 a unit and now it is Rs 2.55. When volume increases, cost will come down.
What is the status on introducing electric buses for public transport?
We want electric buses, and ethanol-, bio-diesel- and methanol-driven buses to ply in the country. It would help address the problem of air pollution affecting major cities. It also facilitates conversion of waste into wealth. For this, we want to adopt the 'Transport for London' model, which is a revolutionary idea. Nine operators in London and the corporation bring out a tender on the basis of a per-kilometre charge. The conductor belongs to the corporation or the state while the driver belongs to the operator. Both have the same dress code. Investments will be made by the operators.
In Nagpur, the cost of running one bus on 100 per cent ethanol is Rs 79 per kilometre and the one running on electricity costs Rs 50 per kilometre. We can bring down the tariff through this. The idea is to provide better public transportation services to discourage people from using personal vehicles.
What is the progress on new age transport options such as Metrino and Hyperloop? Experts believe that travelling by air is cheaper than using the Hyperloop...
As far as unconventional mode of transportation is concerned, the Metrino or pod taxi project from Dhaula Kuan in New Delhi to Manesar in Haryana will soon take off. The tender is out and we are awaiting offers from prospective bidders. We hope the companies will invest in these projects. The road ministry would provide the Right of Way for the project.
As far as the Hyperloop is concerned, we are big country and therefore public transportation through various means should be researched and adopted through technological innovation.
We are also working on water transportation projects which are not just financially viable but are also environment-friendly.
We should be ready with our first waterway --Varanasi to Haldia-- by December 2018. We are exploring the possibility of starting a public transport from Allahabad to Varanasi.