India’s 1st CNG Tractor A Game-Changing Innovation, Says Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan

New Delhi: Union Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday unveiled India’s CNG-powered tractor as part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Atmanirbhar Bharat mission.

“The CNG tractor will empower farmers to be atmanirbhar (self-reliant). A farmer has to spend up to Rs 3.5 lakh every year on his diesel-powered tractor. The CNG tractor will reduce the expenditure up to 55 per cent,” said Gadkari.

Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan termed it a game-changing innovation.

“A game changing innovation, economical and environment-friendly CNG-driven tractors will significantly lower the fuel and maintenance cost borne by farmers. This will help improve  livelihoods of farmers and also create job opportunities in rural India,” tweeted Pradhan, who was present at the launch along with Cabinet colleagues Parshottam Rupala and Gen. (Retd) VK Singh.

“Agricultural residue is used as a feedstock to produce bio-CNG. Tractors driven on CNG will significantly reduce pollution and also help in boosting income of farmers as they will further be encouraged to sell their agricultural residue to bio-CNG units near them,” Pradhan posted.

“This breakthrough technology will compliment the efforts of converting waste-to-wealth, improving well-being and prosperity of farmers and building an #AatmanirbharBharat,” Pradhan wrote.