Gadkari pushes for use of composites for production of water taxis 

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday pushed for use of composites for the proposed water taxi services from Mumbai to connect the upcoming Navi Mumbai International Airport in just 17 minutes. 

There would be requirement of about 10,000 taxis made of Fibre-Reinforced Plastic (FRP), he said while delivering the inaugural address an International Conference and Exhibition on Reinforced Plastics (ICERP) organised by the FRP Institute here.

Mr. Gadkari said jetties have already been constructed near the Navi Mumbai International Airport, which is slated to commence operations by March 2025. 

“By harnessing the vast sea routes around Mumbai and Thane and with composite material for taxis, we can significantly reduce traffic congestion and air pollution,’’ he said.

He said the FRP Institute while keeping the quality of composites intact must explore potential uses for this material while addressing cost challenges to increase its contribution to India’s growth. 

According to FRP Institute, the Indian composites raw materials market was pegged at US$ 1.8 billion by end of 2024. The domestic composites materials industry will keep growing at a 7.8% CAGR reaching $2.8 billion by 2030. The composites end product market is $4.6 billion in 2024 and expected to reach $7.2 billion by 2030.

Piya Thakkar, who chairs ICERP 2025 said, “The Indian composites industry is now picking up pace in its growth. As India moves towards becoming a world economic leader, the future looks very bright for this industry.”

“The $4.6 billion Indian Composites products industry also known as reinforced plastics is expected to hit $7.2 billion in 2030,’’ she said.

Shekhar Sardessai, Chairman FRP Institute said, “Composites materials, or FRP, stand out for their unique ability to combine diverse properties like strength, durability, and lightweight design, making them indispensable for modern applications. These materials not only drive efficiency and innovation across industries but also contribute to a circular economy by promoting sustainability.”