Union minister Nitin Gadkari has pushed back against concerns that ethanol-blended petrol can damage vehicles, challenging critics to produce evidence of vehicles being affected by the fuel.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the Bihar Investor Summit 2026, Gadkari defended the Centre's ethanol-blending programme and said the policy was aimed not only at reducing dependence on conventional fuels but also at creating a new market for agricultural produce, PTI reported.
“I challenge anybody to come up with the complaint that his or her vehicle has suffered damage on this account. Of course, those with vested interests may have some other story to tell,” Gadkari said, according to PTI.
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Gadkari on ethanol blending: 'Show me one damaged vehicle'
Gadkari said around 4 crore four-wheelers and 20 crore two-wheelers had been running on petrol blended with ethanol since 2022.
He also said leading automobile manufacturers had tested vehicles with higher ethanol blends, including vehicles capable of running on 100% ethanol.
“Of course, we are importing (conventional fuel) worth Rs 22 lakh crore, and those who feel that their business will get hit are bound to feel bad. But let me tell you, I am the minister in charge of the department concerned; all leading automobile brands have tried running their vehicles even on 100 per cent ethanol. And there have been no complaints,” he said.
Ethanol policy aims to diversify farm income
Gadkari said the ethanol-blending programme should also be viewed as an agricultural diversification initiative.
“We must understand that the decision to blend ethanol with petrol was taken with a view to diversification of agriculture towards energy and power sectors... Our farmers shall no longer remain ‘anna data’ (food producers) but also become ‘urja data’ (energy producers),” he said.
The minister said ethanol production from crops such as corn had opened an additional source of income for farmers.
According to Gadkari, the use of corn for ethanol had resulted in additional earnings of up to Rs 45,000 crore for farmers in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.
“After the Union government took the decision to make ethanol out of corn and the same was used for the aforementioned purposes, it resulted in additional earnings of up to Rs 45,000 crore for farmers of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. Is it not preferable to serve the interests of those from whom we import (fuel),” he asked.
Gadkari highlights alternative fuel push
Gadkari also cited other efforts to develop alternative fuels and said agricultural waste could be used to produce aviation fuel.
“We have even made aviation fuel with rice straw. The future belongs to innovation, technology and research. And a state like Bihar has to play a key role in this direction,” he said.
He said such initiatives could help expand the use of agricultural resources beyond conventional food production while creating new economic opportunities.
Bihar investor summit: Gadkari flags tourism, makhana potential
Turning to Bihar's investment potential, Gadkari said the state could expand its economic base through sectors including tourism.
He also highlighted the international demand for makhana, a crop widely produced in Bihar, as an area with potential for further growth.
Gadkari described Bihar as a state with significant economic potential and praised Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary for his leadership.
“Under the leadership of Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, the state is bound to scale new heights,” he said.
Choudhary, addressing the summit, also appealed to investors to establish businesses in Bihar and assured them of access to a large market, provided their products met the required standards.
Inputs from agencies
