Gadkari Says E20 Fuel Criticism Was a ‘Paid Campaign’, Backs E100-Compatible Vehicles

Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari finally came out with a real surprising statement today, when he said that the hue and cry over E20 fuel was a 'paid campaign'. His remark came after the govrnemnt notified changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, allowing flex-fuel vehicles that can run onup to E100.

Post Published By: Pradeep Tripathi

Updated : 27 October 2026, 3:21 PM IST

Gadkari calls E20 petrol controversy a paid campaign (Img: X)

New Delhi: Union Road and Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that the controvercy over blending 20 per cent enthnol in petrol fuel was a "paid campaign ". The remark came a day after the government notified changes to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, allowing flex-fuel vehicles that can run on up to E100 (nearly pure ethanol).

E20 Fuel Controversy

Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, Gadkari further said India can save a precious foreign exchange by reducing imports of fossil fuels.

The union Minister furtehr said " Three months ago, huge noice was made against the E20 ( 20 per cent ethnol-blended petrol) ; now the rage against E20 fuel is over...... It was a paid campaign".

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Gadkari Reviews Highway Projects

The minister also said that taking note of complaints on social media about poor condition of some highway stretches, he reviewed 700-800 projects recently. " I am not going to compromise on the quality of highways", he said. Gadkari assured that in the next two years, highway users won't face any inconvenience.

Rules Allow Vehicles to Run on E100

It may be recalled that in a big development for the auto sector in India, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has notified amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, paving the way for vehicles designed to run on ethnol blends of up to E100, or nearly pure ethnol.

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The move is expected to support the government's efforts to expand the use of alternative fuels and reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil. However, the permission to use higher ethnol blends will apply only to vehicles specifically designed and certified for such fuels.