Aaditya Thackeray asks PM Modi to give choice of 100 percent petrol or ethanol blend

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday, 16 July 2026, urged the Central Government to allow consumers in Mumbai and across the country to choose between purchasing 100 percent petrol and ethanol-blended petrol.

In a letter addressed directly to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Thackeray highlighted the mounting anxieties of everyday vehicle owners. He noted that concerns have been steadily rising, particularly among young citizens and middle-class families, as the proportion of ethanol blended into petrol continues to increase.

According to Thackeray, a major source of concern is that many of the vehicles currently running on Indian roads were not originally designed by their manufacturers to operate on fuel with higher ethanol concentrations. Owners of these older or non-compatible vehicles fear that using the blended fuel could lead to engine damage or other mechanical issues.

To mitigate these risks, Thackeray urged the Centre to adopt a more consumer-friendly policy. He proposed that fuel stations should provide two distinct options, giving motorists the freedom to choose 100 percent petrol if their vehicles are not compatible with ethanol blends, or to opt for the blended fuel.

This proposal seeks to safeguard the interests of vehicle owners who rely on older models and cannot easily transition to vehicles designed for ethanol-blended fuel, ensuring they are not faced with unexpected maintenance issues.