Nitin Gadkari

Pothole deaths rise 53% in 5 yrs; UP accounts for over half of fatalities

Deaths caused by pothole-related road accidents have risen by 53 per cent over the past five years, with 9,438 people killed across the country between 2020 and 2024, the government informed Parliament. Uttar Pradesh alone accounted for more than 54 per cent of these fatalities, emerging as the worst-affected state. The data shared by Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari in a written reply showed that while fatalities dipped slightly in 2021, they have climbed steadily since, reaching a peak of 2,385 deaths in 2024. While the annual death toll saw a marginal dip from 1,555 in 2020 to 1,481 in 2021, it has surged every year since. Fatalities rose to 1,856 in 2022, 2,161 in 2023, and peaked at 2,385 in 2024. Uttar Pradesh consistently recorded the highest casualties, with 5,127 deaths reported between 2020 and 2024. In 2024 alone, the state saw 1,369 pothole-related deaths more than half the national total, up from 1,320 in 2023 and 1,030 in 2022. Madhya Pradesh follow

New policies in works for faster decision-making: Gadkari on Invit push

Kahi problemach nahi (there's no problem). The NHAI is economically sound, and it has an AAA rating, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said

Maharashtra govt signs MoUs worth over ₹48K cr with auto, steel firms

Maharashtra signs ₹48,000-crore investment MoUs for Vidarbha, with Mahindra's ₹15,000-crore Nagpur plant anchoring the push to build an auto and steel hub

Around 59 mn FASTags currently active, out of 118.6 mn issued: Gadkari

There are around 5.9 crore FASTags active across the country, of the total 11.86 crore FASTags issued so far, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. FASTag is an RFID passive tag used for making toll payments directly from the customer's linked prepaid, savings, or current account. Presently, more than 98 per cent of user fee on National Highways is collected through electronic toll collection system, the Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways said in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha. "As of December, 2025, out of total issued 11.86 crore FASTags since inception, about 5.9 crore FASTags are active across the country and used for electronic toll transactions at National Highway Fee Plazas," Gadkari informed the Upper House. The number of average daily ETC transactions on NH fee plaza is around 105 lakh in 2025-26 (till December, 2025). The constant growth and adoption of FASTag by highway users is encouraging and has helped in increased efficiency in toll ...

Budget places infra at heart of journey towards 'Viksit Bharat': Gadkari

Union Budget for 2026-27 places infrastructure at the heart of India's journey towards Viksit Bharat2047, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday presented the Union Budget 2026-27 in the Lok Sabha. "With a clear focus on connectivity, manufacturing depth, and regional balance, the Budget outlines a decisive push to build world-class, future-ready infrastructure," Gadkari said in a social media post on X. He said initiatives announced in the Budget reflect a clear vision: infrastructure not just as physical assets, but as an enabler of resilience, opportunity, and global competitiveness. The minister also said the Budget for 2026-27 outlines a decisive roadmap centred on farmers, youth, and MSMEs, strengthening the foundations of inclusive growth, innovation, and capital investment as India progresses towards.

Gadkari introduces new safety rules in sleeper buses to prevent accidents

Existing buses to be retrofitted with a fire detection system, emergency exits with hammers, and emergency lighting, Gadkari said

Govt to roll out vehicle-to-vehicle communication to reduce crashes

Standards to come out this year

Cut imports, boost exports to become 3rd-largest economy: Gadkari

India will have to reduce imports and increase exports, if it wants to become the third-largest economy in the world, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. Speaking at 'CSIR's Technology Transfer Ceremony', Gadkari highlighted how agricultural waste can be converted into a valuable national resource and help in reducing the country's crude imports. The road transport and highways minister noted that the use of bio-bitumen, a petroleum-free component, in road construction is a transformative step towards the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. "By utilising agro-waste, it reduces pollution caused by crop burning and strengthens the circular economy. "With 15 per cent blending, India can save nearly USD 4,500 crore in foreign exchange and substantially reduce its dependence on imported crude oil," Gadkari said. The minister said that India, which is the fourth largest economy in the world, will have to reduce its imports and increase exports to become the third-largest. "If the

Gadkari flags off 'Atal Run-2025' on Vajpayee's 101st birth anniversary

The run comprised two races for men and women, two for under-16, and the highlight, the Atal Run

'I get infections in Delhi': Gadkari says transport causes 40% of pollution

Amid hazardous air quality in Delhi, Nitin Gadkari acknowledges the transport sector's 40% contribution to pollution, saying he develops infections after short stays in the capital

Knowledge key for India to become $5 trillion economy, says Gadkari

Knowledge is the most powerful tool for India to become a USD 5 trillion economy and the third largest economy in the world, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday. Addressing an event in the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he said the future of any country is based on the type of futuristic technology it possesses. Taking technology to the grassroots, particularly in agriculture and rural India, is critical for making India self-reliant and a global power, he said. "IITs and their students have made a great contribution towards the country's development and progress. While working in the government, if we face any challenge, we refer it to the IITs first. The credibility of IITs is so good that the solution we get is widely accepted. In a nutshell, you are the capital of knowledge," the Union minister said. "The progress of the country, resources, and technologies are important, but what is more important is the futuristic technology and knowledge. The future of any ..

Knowledge most powerful tool for India to become $5 trn economy: Gadkari

Knowledge is the most powerful tool for India to become a USD 5 trillion economy and the third largest economy in the world, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday. Speaking at an event in the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, he said the future of any country is based on the type of futuristic technology it possesses. "The IITs and its students have have a great contribution towards the country's development and progress. While working in the government, if we face any challenge, we refer it to the IITs first. The credibility of IITs is so good that the solution we get is widely accepted. In a nutshell, you are the capital of knowledge," the Union minister said. "The progress of the country, resources, technologies are important but what is more important is the futuristic technology and knowledge. The future of any country is based on what type of futuristic technology it possesses," he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has put forth a target in the form of a mission

Multi-lane free flow toll collection by 2026-end, says Nitin Gadkari

India will roll out MLFF tolling nationwide by end-2026, enabling pay-as-you-drive travel, eliminating toll booths and cutting wait times and fuel losses

At least 574 national highway projects behind completion schedule: Gadkari

As many as 574 under construction National Highway projects worth Rs 3.60 lakh crore have exceeded their completion schedule, Parliament was informed on Wednesday. In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that out of 574 delayed highway projects awarded in the last five years, 300 are facing delay of less than one year, 253 projects 1-3 years and 21 projects over 3 years. Gadkari also said 133 NH projects with total cost of about Rs 1 lakh crore have been awarded but appointed date could not be declared pending fulfilment of pre-requisite conditions like availability of encumbrance free land and clearances by forest and wildlife departments. He said the ministry has taken various steps to streamline land acquisition process by leveraging the mechanism of review and resolution of bottlenecks / hindrances in ongoing projects, in active collaboration with the state governments and other stakeholders. Responding to a separate question, the road transport

AI-based digital toll collection to be implemented by 2026-end: Gadkari

The multi-lane free flow (MLFF) toll system and AI-driven highway management will be completed across the country by 2026-end, and after implementation, these technologies will eliminate wait time at toll plazas for commuters, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday. Responding to supplementaries during the question hour, the road transport minister said the new technology will be AI-based. Commuters will not have to wait any longer at toll plazas, and this will help save fuel worth Rs 1,500 crore and add Rs 6,000 to the government revenue. "The multi-lane free flow toll (MLFF) is a very good facility. Earlier, we had to pay at the toll, and it would take 3 to 10 minutes; then, due to FastTag, the time has come down to 60 seconds or less. Our income has increased by at least Rs 5,000 crore. After MLFF came, replacing FastTag, cars can now cross the toll at a maximum of 80 km per hour, and no one will be stopped at the toll," he said in the House. "Our ...

No plans to phase out or retrofit of E20 non-compliant vehicles: Gadkari

Since E20 fuel was made mandatory across India in April 2025, vehicle owners have increasingly reported issues related to mileage, engine performance and overall drivability

Road works of ₹1.5 trillion have been approved for Maharashtra: Gadkari

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said road works valued at Rs 1.50 lakh crore have been approved for Maharashtra for 2026. The works will begin in the next three months, he told reporters on the premises of the Vidhan Bhavan, where the state legislature session is underway. The Nagpur MP visited the legislature complex to attend an event marking the centenary celebration of the Vidhan Parishad. Gadkari told reporters that MSIDC (Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation) will construct a new Pune-Sambhajinagar expressway for Rs 16,318 crore, and an MoU has been processed. The new expressway will reduce the travelling time from Pune to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to two hours and from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar to Nagpur in two-and-a-half hours. He said the 'bhoomipujan' (ground-breaking) of Talegaon-Chakan-Shikrapur Elevated Road, which is being constructed for Rs 4,207 crore, will be done after the local body elections are over. Gadkari said that the DPR proc

Ethanol-blended petrol environment-friendly, benefits farmers: Gadkari

Ethanol-blended petrol has greatly benefitted farmers and resulted in saving of over Rs 1.40 lakh crore of foreign exchange, Lok Sabha was informed on Thursday. Amid concerns over the use of ethanol-blended petrol, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said after extensive testing, no adverse impact has been found in cars where ethanol mixed petrol is used. "Use of E-20 petrol (Ethanol Blended Petrol) is a healthy trend. It is a green transition. It is less polluted and also saves foreign exchange," he said in Lok Sabha during Question Hour. Gadkari said due to the mixing of ethanol in petrol, Rs 40,000 crore has been given to the farmers for the raw materials used -- sugarcane, maize etc. -- in ethanol. Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said following the implementation of the ethanol blending programme, money which was earlier spent on crude oil imports is now going to farmers, who have become "Urjadaatas" apart from being "Annadatas". He said during th

Road accident deaths rise 2.3% to 177,000 in 2024, says Nitin Gadkari

The number of road accident fatalities in India rose 2.3 per cent to over 1.77 lakh in 2024, resulting in the death of 485 persons every day, Parliament was informed. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, in a written reply to Lok Sabha, said that the Stockholm Declaration on Road Safety, adopted at the 3rd Global Ministerial Conference on Road Safety in February 2020, sets a new global target to reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030. "As per the information received from States/UTs, total number of road accident fatalities reported in the country on all categories of roads during the calendar year 2024 were 1,77,177, which includes data in respect of West Bengal taken from eDAR portal," Gadkari said. A total number of 4,80,583 road accidents have been reported by Police Departments of States and Union Territories (UTs) in the country during the calendar year 2023, claiming 1,72,890 lives and causing injuries to 4,62,825 persons. The

Using Toyota's 'Mirai' car running on futuristic hydrogen fuel: Gadkari

Amid air pollution in Delhi, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said the central government is giving priority to alternative fuels, and he has started using Toyota's 'Mirai' hydrogen fuel-cell car. "The futuristic fuel is hydrogen.. I have also got a car, which is hydrogen, and the car is from Toyota ... It gives the same comfort as Mercedes. The name of the car is Mirai, which is a Japanese word meaning future," Gadkari said during Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. The Union minister said the import of fossil fuel is costing India Rs 22 lakh crore, and it is also creating a lot of pollution. "Because of pollution, you are all facing the crucial problem; I am also facing the problem in Delhi," he said, as he expressed confidence that as India moves to alternative fuel, the country will become a net exporter of energy. During 202425, India imported around 300 million metric tons of crude and petroleum products and exported about 65 million metric tons. Th