Gadkari calls for an integrated approach to development

Union Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has reassured that most problems related to infrastructure were being addressed and that positive changes will be seen soon.

Speaking at a session titled 'Mind the Trillion Dollar Gap' at the India Economic Summit here on Wednesday, he set an ambitious target for the road-building capacity to be taken up from the dismal three kms per day currently to 30 kms per day in the next two years.

The session organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry and the World Economic Forum, focused on India's $1 trillion infrastructure deficit.

With 'Redefining Public-Private Cooperation for a New Beginning' as the theme, the Summit assumes great significance as it is the first one with a new government at the helm and with leaders from business, government, civil society and academia from 45 countries participating.

Talking about the issues and challenges, Gadkari mentioned land acquisition, cost of capital, and environment, among others which needed to be addressed.

"India needs development and everyone must understand this and facilitate it," he stressed, adding that the government would not, for instance, push for development at the cost of environment.

Calling for an "integrated" approach, he stressed that the government was taking cognizance of the challenges and taking steps to facilitate investment in infrastructure.