Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has confirmed that buses in Delhi will run on hydrogen produced from segregated municipal waste in the future. Addressing a youth conclave organised by the Delhi BJP on July 6, 2026, Gadkari shared his vision of a world where vehicles will use water to generate hydrogen to operate. As reported by BJP Delhi and NDTV Profit, the minister stated that around eight million tons of garbage from landfill sites in Delhi have already been utilised for the construction of expressways, with plans to eliminate garbage across the country by 2027. Gadkari emphasized that 'All of this is possible' according to his vision for sustainable transportation solutions, responding to skeptics by asking 'Has there ever been a time in the last 50 years when something I predicted did not come to pass?'
Gadkari highlighted the economic potential of waste management, noting that the municipal corporation in his parliamentary constituency is earning nearly ₹325 crore annually by selling treated wastewater. According to NDTV Profit, the minister explained that the segregated waste will be used to produce hydrogen through biodigesters, with the buses in Delhi running on this alternative fuel source. He emphasized that 'All of this is possible' according to his vision for sustainable transportation solutions, with the minister stressing that the adoption of alternative fuels would play a key role in reducing pollution, lowering fuel imports and promoting cleaner mobility in the country.
Delhi's new Electric Vehicle Policy 2026 paves the way for hydrogen fuel-based vehicles within four years, aiming to curb vehicular emissions, a major contributor to air pollution. The city plans to introduce two hydrogen-powered buses soon, with the Delhi Transport Corporation collaborating with NTPC for this initiative. This move signifies a significant stride towards cleaner, sustainable public transportation and a future-ready mobility ecosystem for the national capital. The policy also includes provisions for single-window clearance for charging stations and encouragement for housing societies to install chargers, with the government seeking central funding for infrastructure expansion.
MoRTH Secretary V Umashankar told the CII Multimodal Transportation and Logistics Summit that a mandate for blending isobutanol with diesel is 'quite likely' before the end of 2026. As reported by NDTV Profit, the proposal is still under consideration with technical evaluations and regulatory processes expected before any rollout. Gadkari cited a pilot demonstration where engineers have successfully operated two generator sets on 100% ethanol and isobutanol, proving that engines can be developed to run on these alternative fuels. Responding to doubts about the feasibility of such innovations, Gadkari expressed confidence in technological progress, saying that many of his earlier predictions on transport and infrastructure had eventually become reality.
