Gadkari may not take charge as Highways and Shipping Min today

Senior BJP leader and former Party president Nitin Jairam Gadkari who is the new minister for Road Transport & Highways (RTH) and Shipping in the Narendra Modi government may not assume office today.

"Gadkari, has plans to fly to Nagpur this afternoon and may not take charge today," a source said.

"Most likely Gadkari will take charge tomorrow as he has to go to Nagpur," a RTH Ministry official said.

An aide of Gadkari too said that there were chances that he may not take charge today.

Gadkari, a key member of Modi's core group who earned the distinction of being the youngest BJP president has been assigned the crucial RTH and Shipping Ministry portfolio. Earlier, the two ministries were held by different ministers.

Known as an able administrator with innovative approaches he faces the challenges of reviving the road sector which has projects worth at least Rs 1.5 lakh crore stalled on account of various regulatory hurdles.

Born into a middle class agricultural family in Nagpur, he hit the spotlight for giving his city a new face through his development work and also earned the nick-name of 'flyover' man during his stint as the PWD minister for building a series of flyovers in Mumbai.

As a PWD Minister between 1995 and 1999, he gained first experience to undertake infrastructure projects. He is quoted as having said that with Rs five, he earned the distinction of completing works worth Rs 8,000 crore.

The success of the Mumbai-Pune expressway also brought him fame, with the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asking him to launch the national highway authority.