Nitin Gadkari launches India's first CNG tractor, to save Rs 1 lakh in fuel cost

Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari launched India’s first-ever diesel tractor converted into a CNG tractor on Friday. According to the government, this CNG tractor can save about Rs 1 lakh annually on fuel costs.

The launch event was attended by Union Ministers Dharmendra Pradhan, VK Singh, Narendra Singh Tomar, and Purshottam Rupala. Gadkari was handed over the registration certificate of the tractor by Dharmendra Pradhan, minister of petroleum & natural gas and steel.

This conversion was jointly done by Rawmatt Techno Solutions and Tomasetto Achille India. The government says the conversion will aid in increasing farmers’ income by lowering costs and help in job creation in rural India. ‘The most important benefit for the farmer will be to save more than one lakh rupees annually on fuel costs, which will help them to improve their livelihood,’ the press release on CNG tractor said.

Besides this, the conversion aims to help in reducing maintenance costs since it is non-corrosive, non-dilutive, and non-contaminating. It is a cheaper alternative as CNG is up to 50% when compared to petrol and diesel. Current diesel prices are Rs 78.38 per litre whereas CNG costs only Rs 42 per kg.

Gadkari also mentioned that the test reports indicate that retrofitted CNG tractor produces more or equal power in comparison to the diesel-run unit. It is a safer substitute as the CNG tanks comprise a tight seal which reduces the likelihood of explosion while refueling or spill. ”It is an excellent example of waste to wealth,” he added.

The government claims India’s first CNG tractor would provide benefits of conversion to CNG, is that it is a clean fuel that has the lowest content of carbon and other pollutants. In other words, by being environment-friendly overall emissions are reduced by 70 per cent when compared to diesel.