Gadkari Confirms: Delhi Buses Will Run on Hydrogen Made from City Garbage

July 11, 2026 4 min read

The Indian government plans to power Delhi's public bus fleet with hydrogen extracted from municipal solid waste, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced this week. The initiative forms part of India's broader strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels while tackling the capital's chronic air pollution and mounting garbage problems simultaneously.

What Gadkari announced

Speaking at a public event in the capital, Gadkari outlined plans to produce green hydrogen specifically from garbage collected across Delhi's municipal zones. The minister described the dual benefit: fewer emissions from public transport and a productive use for the city's substantial waste output. India's green hydrogen mission, launched in 2023, has prioritised diverse feedstocks including renewable electricity and biomass, but using municipal waste represents a newer approach.

The announcement builds on Gadkari's long-standing push for alternative fuels in India's transport sector. His ministry has previously promoted ethanol-blended petrol, compressed biogas, and electric vehicles as ways to cut oil imports that currently drain foreign exchange reserves.

Delhi's waste and transport challenges

Delhi generates approximately 11,000 tonnes of municipal solid waste daily, according to central pollution control data. A significant portion ends up in landfill sites on the city's outskirts, which have repeatedly caught fire during summer months, adding to the capital's notorious air quality problems. The National Green Tribunal has repeatedly directed authorities to improve waste processing infrastructure.

Delhi's public bus system, operated primarily by the Delhi Transport Corporation, serves millions of commuters daily across the National Capital Territory. The fleet has gradually shifted toward compressed natural gas over the past two decades, but the proposed hydrogen transition would mark a substantially different direction.

The technology pathway

Green hydrogen production from waste involves converting organic material through processes like gasification or pyrolysis, then cleaning and compressing the resulting hydrogen for use as fuel. Unlike electrolysis powered by renewables, waste-based hydrogen relies on the thermal content of refuse to drive the conversion. Several Indian startups have been working on waste-to-hydrogen technologies, though commercial-scale deployment remains limited.

Air quality stakes for Delhi residents

Delhi consistently ranks among the world's most polluted cities, with winter air quality frequently reaching hazardous levels. Vehicular emissions contribute roughly a quarter of the city's particulate matter pollution, according to the Delhi Pollution Control Committee. Switching buses to hydrogen, which produces only water vapour when burned, could meaningfully reduce tailpipe pollution if the transition reaches substantial scale.

Residents in neighbourhoods along major bus corridors stand to benefit most from lower street-level emissions. The city's health infrastructure has struggled for years with respiratory illness caseloads that spike during polluted periods. Public health experts have repeatedly called for aggressive action on transportation sources as part of any credible clean air strategy.

Funding and implementation questions

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has not yet specified the investment required for the waste-to-hydrogen conversion infrastructure or the hydrogen refuelling stations that would need installation across the city. Governmentthink tank NITI Aayog has estimated that establishing a national green hydrogen ecosystem could require investments exceeding Rs 8 lakh crore over the coming decade.

Delhi's government, led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, would need to coordinate closely with municipal corporations responsible for waste collection and segregation. The quality of feedstock — specifically how well household waste is separated at source — would significantly affect hydrogen yields and processing costs.

Broader national context

India aims to produce 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen annually by 2030, representing a tenfold increase from current domestic production. The National Green Hydrogen Mission, backed by initial funding of Rs 19,744 crore, offers production-linked incentives to manufacturers willing to invest in electrolysers and related equipment.

The waste-based hydrogen announcement adds a distinct variant to this strategy, targeting a feedstock that previously had limited productive use beyond landfill. Unlike solar or wind-powered electrolysis, waste conversion can operate continuously using the caloric content of refuse, potentially offering better capacity utilisation for hydrogen production facilities.

What happens next

The ministry is expected to invite expressions of interest from technology providers and waste management companies within the next few months. A pilot project covering a limited number of buses will likely precede any wider rollout, allowing authorities to assess real-world performance and cost competitiveness against existing diesel and CNG options.

Delhi commuters should watch for tender announcements from the transport department and any partnerships between the Delhi Transport Corporation and private waste processing firms. The success of early hydrogen buses on specific routes will determine whether the programme receives funding for expansion to the full fleet.