India has taken a significant step towards building a hydrogen-powered transport ecosystem, with pilot trials of hydrogen-fuelled buses and trucks commencing across 10 key transport corridors. Announcing the initiative, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said the trials mark an important milestone in the country’s transition towards cleaner and more sustainable mobility solutions.
The pilot programme, supported by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy under the National Green Hydrogen Mission, aims to evaluate the operational performance and commercial viability of hydrogen-powered heavy vehicles in real-world conditions. The initiative is expected to generate valuable insights into vehicle performance, refuelling infrastructure and the broader hydrogen value chain, laying the groundwork for large-scale adoption of hydrogen-based mobility in India.
The demonstration projects will be carried out on ten strategically selected routes across the country, including Greater Noida–Delhi–Agra, Bhubaneswar–Konark–Puri, Ahmedabad–Vadodara–Surat, Sahibabad–Faridabad–Delhi, Pune–Mumbai, Jamshedpur–Kalinganagar, Thiruvananthapuram–Kochi, Kochi–Edappally, Jamnagar–Ahmedabad and Visakhapatnam–Voyyuru. Dedicated hydrogen refuelling infrastructure is also being developed along these corridors to support uninterrupted vehicle operations.
The programme is backed by an allocation of ₹500 crore and involves the deployment of 37 hydrogen-powered heavy-duty vehicles, including buses and trucks based on both Hydrogen Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle (FCEV) and Hydrogen Internal Combustion Engine (H₂-ICE) technologies. Leading public and private sector organisations, including NTPC, Indian Oil Corporation, Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited, Tata Motors, Ashok Leyland, Reliance Industries and others, are participating in the initiative through multiple project consortia.
Gadkari has consistently advocated hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel capable of reducing carbon emissions and lowering India’s dependence on imported fossil fuels. He said the pilot projects will help accelerate the development of a domestic hydrogen mobility ecosystem while supporting the country’s long-term goals of energy security, sustainable transport and net-zero emissions.
The hydrogen vehicle trials form a key component of India’s broader clean mobility strategy, complementing ongoing efforts to promote electric vehicles, biofuels and other low-carbon transport solutions. The experience gained from these pilots is expected to shape future policies and encourage wider adoption of hydrogen-powered commercial transport across the country.