'Row over E20 petrol was a paid campaign', says Gadkari

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday described the controversy surrounding the rollout of 20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol as a "paid campaign", asserting that the fuel had been used by millions of vehicles without verified evidence of widespread engine failures.

Speaking at an event organised by industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Gadkari said the criticism directed at E20 petrol had subsided and maintained that increasing ethanol blending would help India reduce its dependence on imported fossil fuels and conserve foreign exchange.

"Three months ago, huge noise (khub halla) was made against the E20 (20 per cent ethanol-blended petrol) fuel; now rage against E20 fuel is over...It was a paid campaign," the minister said.

His remarks came a day after the government notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, permitting flex-fuel vehicles capable of operating on fuel blends containing up to 100 per cent ethanol.

Minister defends ethanol blending

Gadkari said more than 20 crore two-wheelers and over three crore petrol cars had been operating on E19-E20 fuel blends over the past three years without verified evidence of widespread engine failures or breakdowns attributable to ethanol blending.

The rollout of E20 petrol, comprising 80 per cent petrol and 20 per cent ethanol, had drawn criticism from opposition parties and consumer groups over its potential impact on older vehicles not specifically designed for higher ethanol concentrations.

India's Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme began with a pilot project in 2001, followed by the introduction of E5 petrol in 2006. Ethanol blending remained around 1.53 per cent until 2013-14 before being progressively increased through expansion of production capacity, infrastructure and regulatory measures.

The minister said greater use of ethanol and alternative fuels could help reduce India's fossil fuel import bill.

Highway quality under scrutiny

Turning to road infrastructure, Gadkari said he had recently reviewed 700-800 highway projects after receiving complaints on social media about the poor condition of certain stretches.

"I am not going to compromise on the quality of the highways," he asserted.

The minister said highway users would not face inconvenience due to poor road conditions within the next two years, adding that the government would strengthen monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

He said Network Surveillance Vehicles (NSVs) would be deployed to identify and document potholes and other road defects, with penalties imposed on responsible companies, contractors, consultants and officials.

NSVs use vehicle-mounted sensors to assess road and pavement conditions at traffic speeds, enabling authorities to identify maintenance requirements and plan repairs using data-driven monitoring systems.

Delhi-Haridwar travel time to fall

Gadkari said travel between Delhi and Haridwar would be reduced to approximately 90 minutes once the relevant highway project opens within the next two months.

He said improved road connectivity to religious destinations was reducing travel time, encouraging tourism and generating employment opportunities.

According to the minister, approximately 80-85 per cent of the Char Dham highway project has been completed, while traffic to religious destinations in Uttarakhand has increased threefold.

Gadkari emphasised the broader economic benefits of infrastructure investment, describing infrastructure development as the backbone of economic growth.

"If we are going to spend Rs 100 for infrastructure, the impact on the economy comes to Rs 325," he said, highlighting the multiplier effect of public investment.

National highway network expands

The minister said India's national highway network had expanded 1.6 times, from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1.46 lakh km in 2026.

During the same period, the network of four-lane and wider national highways increased 2.6 times, from 18,278 km to 49,160 km.

The high-speed corridor network registered a twelvefold increase, reaching 6,788 km in 2026.

Gadkari said the expansion of highway infrastructure was improving connectivity, reducing logistics costs and supporting industrial and commercial activity.

Truck body code, Bihar dredging plan

The minister also announced that his ministry would introduce a truck body code after tightening regulations governing bus body construction.

He said discussions were underway with the Bihar Chief Minister to sign a memorandum of understanding under which the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) would undertake river dredging free of cost.

Under the proposed arrangement, silt collected during dredging would be used in highway construction, potentially reducing construction material costs while helping mitigate flood risks in Bihar.

Gadkari said India's ambition of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy depended on developing robust infrastructure across water, power, transport and communication sectors, which he described as essential for industrial growth, trade and business expansion.