Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Harsh Sanghavi on 20 August 2026 called on restaurant owners and food delivery operators across the country to transition from petrol-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs), arguing the shift could slash per-kilometre delivery costs from approximately ₹2.5 to as little as 50 paise. He made the appeal at the inauguration of the fifth Food Delivery Summit-2026, organised by the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) in Ahmedabad.

The EV Cost Case

Sanghavi framed the EV push in straightforward economic terms: a five-fold reduction in per-kilometre running costs would directly improve margins for delivery operators already squeezed by fuel prices. He noted that the appeal coincided with Renewable Energy Day, adding an environmental dimension to what is primarily a cost-efficiency argument. The Deputy Chief Minister said the dual benefit — lower operational expenditure and a smaller carbon footprint — made the transition a logical priority for the sector.

Scale of the Food Sector

Sanghavi underscored the economic weight of the industry, citing figures that place the food and food-related business contribution at approximately ₹5.69 lakh crore to the national economy, with projections pointing toward ₹7.5 lakh crore in the coming years. The sector currently employs more than 75 lakh people, a number he said could exceed one crore as the industry expands. 'Very few sectors employ such a large scale,' he said, making a case for greater policy attention to the segment.

Gujarat's Tourism Destinations as Growth Frontiers

Beyond EVs, Sanghavi highlighted untapped opportunities at Gujarat's tourist locations, urging food businesses to establish ventures at the Statue of Unity, Shivrajpur Beach, Dharoi Dam, the White Rann of Kutch, and Gir. He assured businesses that the state government would provide the necessary infrastructure and facilities at these destinations, removing the burden of capital expenditure. 'Businesses would not have to take the risk of capital expenditure and can manage operational expenditure according to their requirements,' he said.

GIFT City and the Broader Investment Pitch

Sanghavi also pointed to GIFT City in Gandhinagar as a destination for food-sector investment, noting that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's original vision for the financial hub — once dismissed as a 'daydream' when conceived in 2007 — had since become a global fintech and bullion trading centre. He encouraged NRAI members to explore food-sector opportunities within GIFT City's growing ecosystem.

Summit Footprint and Next Steps

The one-day summit drew more than 5,000 participants representing over 1,500 brands from more than 30 cities, spanning sessions and workshops on industry trends. Sanghavi appealed to the NRAI to make Gujarat a regular host for annual events of this scale, pledging continued government support. The state's commitment to supporting the food delivery ecosystem — from the Statue of Unity to Kutch and Gir — signals a broader effort to position Gujarat as a hospitality and food-tech investment destination.