India will soon have 26 ‘Green Expressways’ to be powered by solar: Nitin Gadkari – Times of India

Solar powered electric highways will soon become a reality for India as the government is actively working on their development. The ‘Green Field Expressway’ will facilitate charging of heavy duty trucks and buses. Road Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari This was confirmed during a virtual conference organized by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. “The government is strongly promoting solar and wind energy based charging systems for electric mobility,” he said.

How do electric highways work? Such roadways usually have overhead power lines that are used to power the vehicles traveling on them. Gadkari hinted at a similar arrangement during his virtual conference. He suggested that like trolley buses that draw power from overhead power lines, we could have trolley trucks that use the same principle but on electric highways. Toll booths will also run on solar or wind power

Technical trial has already been conducted, once between Delhi and Agra Yamuna Expressway In 2021, covered a distance of 210 kilometres. Recently, another trial run was conducted Delhi-Jaipur Expressway to cover a distance of 278 km in September 2022. Gadkari says that the government is developing 26 such ‘Green Field Expressways’ which will enhance economic activity and generate new businesses and boost employment generation.

Road safety in the country will also get a boost as the government has proposed to set up an Intelligent Traffic System (ITS) on 15,000 km of national highways by the year 2024. Projects are likely to accelerate with the recent launch of PM. Gate Shakti Master Plan which will facilitate quick approvals.
The Road Transport Minister also went ahead and invited private investors from the US to invest in India’s logistics, ropeway and cable-car sectors, while asserting that Indians and the US are natural partners.