Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday that he’s thinking about bringing in a new rule that would make it mandatory for vehicles to use Indian musical instruments as horn sound. He said that instead of the loud, irritating horns we hear now, vehicles could make sounds like the flute, tabla, violin, or harmonium, making the roads sound more pleasant.

Gadkari also pointed out that the transport sector is one of the biggest sources of air pollution in India, causing about 40% of it. To reduce this, the government is encouraging the use of cleaner fuels like methanol and ethanol in vehicles.

Gadkari also talked about the rapid growth of India’s automobile industry, saying that it plays a major role in the country’s economy. He mentioned that India earns a significant amount by exporting two-wheelers and cars to other countries. In 2014, the auto industry was valued at ₹14 lakh crore, and now it has expanded to ₹22 lakh crore.

He further shared that India has now become the third-largest automobile market in the world, overtaking Japan. Only the United States and China are ahead of India in terms of automobile market size, which reflects the growing demand and production capacity in the country.

This year, the government has also planned to introduce annual and lifetime toll passes to make travel smoother for private vehicle owners. With these passes, drivers won’t have to stop and pay at every toll booth while using national highways.

Two types of passes will be provided: an annual pass for ₹3,000 and a lifetime pass for ₹30,000 (valid for 15 years). These passes will be linked to FASTag, so there’s no need for extra documents or equipment. Currently, private vehicle owners can only buy a ₹340 monthly pass that works at a single toll plaza. The new passes will allow unlimited travel across all national highways, offering a more convenient and cost-effective option.

 

You might also be interested in - Nitin Gadkari blames civil engineers for rising number of road accidents