Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced on Saturday that five flight operations from Nagpur will be suspended in the coming days due to a shortage of aviation turbine fuel. Speaking at a clean energy event in Satara, Gadkari clarified that the suspension is not due to low passenger demand but solely because of the fuel shortage.
Fuel Shortage Impact
Gadkari stated, 'Five flight operations will be suspended from Nagpur in a couple of days. The reason is not lack of passengers, but rather the current shortage of aviation turbine fuel.' This development highlights the challenges faced by the aviation sector amid global fuel supply constraints.
Call for Domestic Fuel Production
The minister used the platform to advocate for increased domestic fuel production to reduce India's heavy reliance on imports, especially given the volatility caused by the ongoing conflict in West Asia. He emphasized that India spends nearly Rs23 lakh crore on fuel imports annually.
'With the number of vehicles steadily rising, we cannot simply reduce consumption; however, we can reduce imports by scaling up domestic biofuel production. This will not only curb our foreign exchange expenditure but also provide a significant financial boost to our farmers,' Gadkari said.
Biofuel Infrastructure Expansion
Gadkari shared that his ministry is working aggressively to expand biofuel infrastructure across India. He envisioned transforming the agrarian economy, stating, 'While our economy is largely driven by agriculture, we want our farmers to be more than just food providers; we want them to be producers of energy, biofuel, and bitumen.'
Bio-bitumen for Road Construction
Addressing the construction sector, Gadkari highlighted that India requires approximately 120 lakh tonnes of bitumen annually for roadwork, of which 60 to 70 lakh tonnes is currently imported. With the price of bitumen rising from Rs45 per kg to Rs80 per kg, the country is spending more foreign exchange than ever.
'To counter this, we have successfully produced 'bio-bitumen' using agricultural waste. Shifting to bio-bitumen will help prevent our national wealth from going abroad,' he added.
