Hydrogen Highway: India's Green Transport Revolution Starts Now.

The government has initiated five pilot projects under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to introduce hydrogen-powered buses and trucks.

Sanctioned by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), these projects involve 37 vehicles—15 hydrogen fuel-cell and 22 hydrogen internal combustion engine-based—along with nine hydrogen refueling stations. They will operate across ten routes, including Greater Noida-Delhi-Agra, Pune-Mumbai, and Bhubaneshwar-Konark-Puri. Major industry players like TATA Motors, Reliance Industries, NTPC, and Ashok Leyland have been awarded contracts.

With Rs 208 crore in financial support, the projects are expected to be commissioned within 18 to 24 months. A key objective of the mission is the phased pilot deployment of green hydrogen as a fuel for heavy transport.

These initiatives will evaluate hydrogen-powered vehicles and infrastructure under real-world conditions, assessing their technical feasibility and economic viability. Launched on January 4, 2023, the National Green Hydrogen Mission has a total budget of Rs 19,744 crore, spanning until 2029-30.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.