Goa, Dec. 13 -- Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has sought to allay fears around India's new 20% ethanol-blended petrol, saying government testing has not found a single case of engine failure in vehicles using E20 fuel. He told the Lok Sabha that older vehicles were run for nearly 1 lakh kilometres on E20 by the government-run Automotive Research Association of India, with "no impact" seen on performance, startability or driveability.

His remarks come amid growing complaints from drivers that the higher ethanol blend damages engines and reduces mileage, even as the Centre pushes ahead with its Ethanol Blending Programme mandating E20 petrol sales. Gadkari said safety standards for E20 have been "well established" through Bur...