Expert panel to suggest innovative ideas in road sector: Min

To adopt and approve innovation and advanced technology in roads and shipping sector, a seven-member committee will be in place soon, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said today.
"India is slow in adopting advanced and innovative technologies. To promote this a seven-member committee comprising present and retired IIT experts will be constituted within eight days," shipping, road transport and highways Minister Gadkari said here.
Addressing the valedictory session of "Building India's Future Navy Technology Imperatives" the minister said it was time to give an impetus to innovation and research in defence so that the prime minister's Make in India can get a boost.

He said out-of-box thinking is required to bring in better solutions for Indian needs as they would catalyse growth in India.
Taking a dig at bureaucrats, the minister said they often delay decisions at the cost of progress.
He said he has suggested defence ministry several times to expedite projects by taking private sector into its fold.

He also said India needs to boost its manufacturing sector to propel GDP and defence can play a crucial role in it.
"Manufacturing sector contributes 30 per cent to the GDP in most of the countries.
In our country, it contributes only 14-16 per cent and we need to boost it and defence can play an important role.