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India Accelerates Hydrogen Mobility Under National Green Hydrogen Mission
Mar 18, 2025
Under the National Green Hydrogen Mission (NGHM), the Government of India has allocated Rs1,466 crore for pilot projects across multiple sectors, with a special focus on hydrogen-powered mobility. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) has launched five pilot projects deploying 37 hydrogen-powered buses along key economic corridors. These include 15 fuel cell vehicles and 22 hydrogen internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, supported by nine strategically placed hydrogen refueling stations. A budget of Rs208 crore has been allocated for execution within 18–24 months.
Beyond NGHM, India is expanding hydrogen-powered transport across various sectors:
- Leh: Hydrogen fuel cell buses operational at 11,500 feet
- Mumbai: India’s first hydrogen-powered train to be launched by 2026
- Delhi & Gujarat: Hydrogen-fueled inland waterways and freight corridors in planning
- Kerala: Kochi Metro adopting hydrogen fuel cells
On a global scale, countries like Japan, South Korea, Germany, and California are investing over Rs27,84,000 crore in hydrogen rail networks. In India, leading companies such as NTPC, IOCL, Reliance, Tata Motors, and Ashok Leyland are actively involved in scaling hydrogen-based transport solutions.
These developments highlight India’s strong commitment to clean mobility, reinforcing its vision to integrate hydrogen into heavy transport and reduce carbon emissions on a large scale.