Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that his Ministry is keen to develop electric highways or e-highways in the near future.

Speaking at the launch ceremony of Mumbai-Pune Electric Bus Service in Mumbai on Friday, he said, the government is planning to construct a stretch of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway as electric lane and invited Indian industry to come forward and invest in the pilot initiative.

The Minister informed that the first phase of Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway, running from Delhi to Jaipur is likely to be inaugurated by Diwali this year.

Mr Gadkari further said that the government is working towards replacing pollution causing fuels like petrol and diesel with electricity or bio-fuels.

The Transport Minister said, the government is committed to provide an indigenous, pollution-free and cost-effective fuel to customers. Stating that import of petrol and diesel costs about seven lakh crore rupees annually, Mr Gadkari said, the plan is to also check the feasibility of hydrogen-based vehicles.

Managing Director of Prasanna Purple Mobility Solutions Prasanna Patwardhan said, the electric buses can run for 300 kilometres on a single charge. He said, the buses would enhance customer comfort, adding that the service is also likely to be extended to other routes within Maharashtra.