Amid the border standoff with China, Nitin Gadkari had said in July 2020 that India would not allow Chinese companies to participate in highway projects.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that Chinese companies have not invested in highway projects in India in recent times.
Amid the border standoff with China, Mr Gadkari had said in July 2020 that India would not allow Chinese companies to participate in highway projects, including joint ventures.
Asked by PTI whether Chinese companies have invested in India’s highway projects in the recent past, Mr Gadkari replied in the negative.
However, he did not elaborate on the issue.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Gadkari had earlier said that India will have to increase its exports and reduce imports.
To another question on US-based electric car major Tesla’s demand for reduction in import duty on electric vehicles (EVs) in India, Mr Gadkari said, “The decision to give any tax concession to Tesla will be taken by the finance ministry.” In a letter to the Roads Ministry, the US firm had said the effective import duty of 110% on vehicles with customs duties over $40,000 is “prohibitive” for zero-emissions vehicles.
It has urged the government to standardize tariffs on electric cars to 40% irrespective of customs value, and withdraw the social welfare surcharge of 10% on electric cars.
Shri Gadkari said that the government is exploring possibilities regarding green hydrogen as a potential transportation fuel.
To make ‘India of the future’, we have to increase our exports and reduce imports, he said.
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