Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the 262-km Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, due to be completed by January 2024, will significantly reduce the travel time to two hours. .
“Central is building 36 green highway projects. I reviewed the Bengaluru-Chennai highway, which will be completed by the end of this year and be operational by January.” Speaking at an event celebrating its 75th anniversary, commercial vehicle manufacturer Ashok Leyland is part of the Hinduja Group.
He also said that the ongoing construction of the Surat-Chennai highway will reduce the distance between Delhi-Chennai by 300 km. The overall aim of the center is to reduce logistics costs in India to 9 percent from the current 14-16 percent, he added.
Automobile industry
Gadkari said that the auto industry is India’s growth engine, contributing 6.5% to India’s GDP. The Indian auto industry is the third largest in the world and the industry that pays the most GST to the central and state governments. “Our goal is to be number one in the automotive industry,” he said.
The auto industry will play a key role in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a $5 trillion economy.
Gadkari also pointed to hydrogen as the fuel of the future and highlighted efforts to promote battery-powered fuels, alternative fuels such as ethanol and methanol.
Tamil Nadu Industry Minister TRB Rajaa reviewed Ashok Leyland’s history in the state and said the company will continue to invest in Tamil Nadu.
“Ashok Leyland’s 75-year journey is a story of transformation and innovation. Our aim is to pioneer sustainable mobility solutions and aim to support India’s economic development in the years to come.” said Dheeraj Hinduja, Chairman, Ashok Leyland and Switch Mobility .
