Pune, 12 August 2025: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that India’s villages are in decline due to economic imbalance in the rural sector, and that biofuels from farm produce could be the key to reversing this trend.
Speaking in Pune on Monday (August 11) at an event marking World Biofuel Day, Gadkari said strengthening agriculture-based industries and creating alternative fuel sources would both boost the rural economy and protect the environment.
The event, hosted by Praj Industries, saw the launch of the “Praj BioVerse” initiative and the release of the book Horizons Beyond Dreams... As Is What Is, based on the life of Dr. Pramod Chaudhary, by Gadkari himself.
The programme was attended by Dr. Chaudhary, Toyota Kirloskar Motors Vice-President Vikram Gulati, Hero MotoCorp Executive Director Vikram Kasbekar, Kirloskar Brothers Managing Director Sanjay Kirloskar, Vishwakarma Publications CEO Vishal Soni, and Praj Bio-Energy President Atul Mule.
Gadkari pointed out that India spends around ₹22 lakh crore annually on importing petroleum products, with diesel consumption higher than petrol. He said fuels like “isobutanol” and hydrogen could be viable alternatives, reducing imports and pollution. “When we stop importing crude oil, that will be a historic moment for the country,” he said.
He also highlighted that ethanol production has saved sugar mills from collapse, and called for research, innovation, and startups to focus on fuels like ethanol, hydrogen, and bamboo. “A farmer is not only a food provider but also a fuel provider,” Gadkari said, adding that improving the financial condition of farmers and workers is essential for making India self-reliant.
As part of the push for clean energy, hydrogen-powered buses will soon operate on ten major routes across India, including the Pune–Mumbai route.
