Solar-powered electric highways will soon become a reality for India as the government is actively working on their development. The ‘Green Field Expressways’ will facilitate the charging of heavy-duty trucks and buses. Road Transport Minister, Nitin Gadkari confirmed the same during a virtual conference organised by the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce. He said, “The government is strongly encouraging solar and wind energy-based charging mechanisms for electric mobility.”
How do electric highways work? Such roadways generally have overhead power lines that are used to power the vehicles travelling on them. Gadkari hinted at a similar system during his virtual conference. He suggested that just like trolley buses that draw power from overhead power lines, we could have trolley trucks that utilise the same principle but on an electric highway. The toll booths will also run on solar or wind energy
Technical trials have already been conducted, once between Delhi and Agra on the Yamuna Expressway in 2021, covering 210 kilometres. More recently, another trial run was conducted on the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway, covering 278 kilometres, in September 2022. Gadkari says that the government is developing 26 such ‘Green Field Expressways’ which will enhance economic activities and create new businesses and promote job creation.
Road safety in the country will also get a boost as the government has proposed to install an intelligent traffic system (ITS) on 15,000 km of national highways by the year 2024. Projects are likely to get fast-tracked with the recent launch of the PM Gate Shakti Master plan that would facilitate quicker clearances.
The road transport minister also went ahead and invited private investors from the US to invest in India’s logistics, ropeways and cable-car sectors while stating that Indian and the US are natural partners.
