Page 13 - Nitin Gadkari

Road safety topmost priority, will reduce accident deaths by 50%: Gadkari

Road safety is the topmost priority of the government, which has set a target to reduce accident deaths by 50 per cent by 2030, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Tuesday. Addressing an event organised by industry body CII, Gadkari further said change in social behaviour is very important along with focusing on strengthening 4Es' of road safety -- Engineering (road & vehicle engineering), Enforcement, Education and Emergency medical service. He emphasized on cooperation of all stakeholders for enhancing road safety. The road transport and highways minister said as per a report, there were 4.6 lakh road accidents, 1.68 lakh deaths and 4 lakh serious injuries in 2022. He said every hour there are 53 road accidents and 19 deaths. Gadkari said the number of road accidents increased by 12 per cent and accident deaths by 10 per cent in 2022, resulting in loss of 3.14 per cent to the GDP . The minister said 60 per cent of deaths was in the age group of 18-35 years. He said the system

Ram temple movement was a campaign to ensure justice with all: Gadkari

The Ayodhya movement was an awareness campaign not just for a temple but to ensure justice with all and appeasement of none, said Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday and stressed that the history of Hindutva is the history of our country. The senior BJP leader was addressing a gathering at a book launch in Nagpur. Gadkari said BJP stalwart L K Advani's Rath Yatra' brought the Ayodhya Ram temple cause to the forefront in the country. The Union minister said Ashok Singhal of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), senior BJP leader Uma Bharti, Sadhvi Ritambhara, several sadhus and Shankaracharyas struggled for it. The Ram Janmabhoomi movement was not just about a temple, said Gadkari. These efforts were to give back pride and respect to India's history, culture and heritage, he said. Gadkari said the presence of a Ram temple where Lord Ram was born is a symbol of pride and self-respect for all those living in the country. Hence, this issue was not communal or caste-related. It was rashtriya

Sugarcane-ethanol policy: Solution will be found after April, says Gadkari

Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday assured sugar mill owners that a solution to their problems owing to the government's policy on the use of sugar for ethanol production will be found after April, and they should not worry. India will one day become an exporter of energy and there was a need to develop agriculture for this to happen, he said, speaking at the International Sugarcane Conference organized by the Vasantdada Sugar Institute here. The institute is headed by NCP chief Sharad Pawar. The Union government last year banned the use of sugarcane juice for making ethanol, but later reversed the decision by allowing the use of sugarcane juice as well as B-heavy molasses to produce the green fuel but capped the diversion of sugar at 17 lakh tonnes. Gadkari said the sugar industry should give more importance to ethanol production. "Maximum ethanol, minimum sugar. With ethanol, we need to promote flex engine vehicles and at the same time, the government will take ...

Indian Oil Corp to open 300 ethanol fuel stations, says Nitin Gadkari

India, the world's third-biggest oil importer and consumer, is keen to cut its carbon footprint to meet its 2070 net-zero carbon goal

Govt's mission is to be world's top automobile manufacturing hub: Gadkari

The government's mission is to make India the number one automobile manufacturing hub in the world and make the auto sector a Rs 25 lakh crore industry, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. Addressing a seminar at the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit here, the minister asked auto manufacturers to invest in clean technologies, especially in electric vehicles, otherwise, they will "miss the bus". Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of a USD 5 trillion economy and a self-reliant India, Gadkari said, "We are looking at the auto sector to become a Rs 25 lakh crore industry." He further said, "We have to become the number one. Our mission, our target is to make the Indian automobile industry in the world the number one manufacturing hub." Gadkari reminded the audience that when he took charge as minister, India's automobile sector was seventh in the world. "It is a great pride and pleasure for me that under the leadership of PM Modi, we have achieved a very respectable fe

Centre allocates Rs 1,782 cr for strategic road project in Arunachal

The Centre has sanctioned Rs 1,782 crore for construction of a strategic road project in Arunachal Pradesh, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Wednesday. The ministry sanctioned the project for the construction of the 82-kilometre-long greenfield road from Pango to Jorging in Upper Siang district of the northeastern state. The project would encompass package-1 and II, Gadkari said on X. "The proposed project aims to ensure seamless and secure traffic flow, establishing year-round connectivity to the villages in the region, thereby catalyzing socio-economic development in the hilly areas of the district", the minister said. The strategically crucial road will substantially reduce travel time for security forces, enhancing their efficiency in reaching border areas, Gadkari added. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has expressed his delight over the development. Khandu said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there is

Gadkari raises concerns over 'poor quality DPRs' for highway construction

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday expressed concerns over poor quality of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) prepared by consultants for the construction of highways, saying that no good work has been done in this regard in the last 10 years. Addressing an event here, Gadkari said some officers of state-owned NHAI are responsible for bankruptcy of various infrastructure companies. "In the last 10 years, no good work had been done in preparation of DPRs... I am worried about the poor quality of DPRs prepared by consultants," the road transport and highways minister said. He added that it is regrettable that full payments are not made to DPR consultants by the government. Gadkari said the entire effort in the ministry is to float the tender for construction of highways, without focus on the quality. There is not a single highways project that does not have black spots, he added. Gadkari exhorted NHAI to hire competent people for DPR preparation for the construction of highways.

Govt sanctions Rs 1,170 crore for road projects in Ladakh: Gadkari

Union minister Nitin Gadkari said the government has sanctioned Rs 1,170.16 crore for 29 roads projects in Ladakh. In a post on social media platform X, Gadkari said Rs 1,170.16 crore has been sanctioned for 29 roads projects, encompassing state highway and other major roads in the Union Territory. Additionally, Rs 181.71 crore has been allocated for 8 bridges under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) scheme for the fiscal year 2023 24, the road transport and highways minister said. He said Ladakh, the largest Union Territory in terms of area and the second least populous in the country, will witness improved connectivity to its remote villages through the approved initiatives. The enhancement in road connectivity is expected to stimulate economic activities, particularly in agriculture and tourism, contributing to the overall infrastructural development of Ladakh, he added.

Year ender 2023: Top auto launches of the year and what to expect in 2024

In 2023, Maruti Suzuki launched the Baleno-based crossover, Fronx, Brezza's facelift, and an all-new Grand Vitara in the SUV space and grabbed more than 50% share of the segment

Increasing exports, reducing imports new way ahead for patriotism: Gadkari

Increasing exports and reducing imports is the new way ahead for patriotism and "swadeshi", and it will be a "new freedom" for India when not a drop of petrol or diesel is imported, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Sunday. Addressing the 'Sagar Manthan 2.0' event organised by weekly magazine 'Panchjanya', the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways also said stopping the import of petrol and diesel was linked to arresting terrorism in the world. "Till this import is not stopped, terrorism will not stop across the world. The aim of my life is to stop import of petrol and diesel. I consider it to be a new freedom for India when not a drop of petrol and diesel is imported into the country," he said. "The import bill for petrol and diesel stands at Rs 16 lakh crore now. If we reduce this import, the money we save will go to the poor. That is why we have introduced alternative fuels like bio fuel. Reduction in imports and increase in exports is the way forward for patriotism an

Link road to Mopa airport to be completed by April: Gadkari in Goa

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday reviewed the progress of various infrastructure projects in Goa. Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, several MLAs and senior state government officials were present in the meeting chaired by the Union minister of road transport and highways. "During the meeting, it was decided that a major link road to Manohar International Airport at Mopa will be completed by April 2024. Work on the six-lane elevated corridor at Porvorim, the foundation stone of which was laid by Gadkari on Friday, will begin in January," a senior official said. "The road connecting the highway to Mormugao Port in Vasco town would be completed by April next year. The new bridge across Zuari river in Borim village has been granted tentative approval by National Highway Authority of India," he added. The Union minister reviewed the appointment of a consultant for a 'Ring Road' to curb congestion on the Goa stretch of the Mumbai-Kanyakumari and Goa-Hyderabad highways, he said.

EV sales likely to reach 10 mn annually by 2030, create 50 mn jobs: Gadkari

India is likely to see 1 crore Electric Vehicle (EV) sales a year and the segment is expected to generate about 5 crore jobs by 2030, Union minister Nitin Gadkari said on Friday. Addressing the 19th EV EXPO 2023, Gadkari, "As per the Vahan database, 34.54 lakh EVs are already registered in India." The Union Road Transport and Highways minister asserted that India has the potential to become number 1 EV maker in the world and the government is committed to making India a self-reliant country in clean energy production and mass application. Gadkari said the government has also permitted retrofitting of existing polluting vehicles into hybrid and fully EVs. The regulations have been finalised and technology demonstrations done successfully, he added. He said the government intends to shift public transport and logistics to EVs.

No tolled highway with capital cost fully recovered, says Gadkari

The government on Thursday said there are no tolled national highways in the country that have completely recovered the capital cost. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said there is no provision for closing of user fee plaza after completion of concession period/recovery of capital cost as per the National Highways Fee (Determination of Rates and Collection) Rules, 2008. "There are no tolled national highways (Public/ Private funded) in the country of which capital cost has been completely recovered," he said. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (NHIDCL) are primarily responsible for the construction of national highways and expressways across the country.

Road construction projects worth Rs 65,000 cr underway in Delhi: Gadkari

Work on projects worth Rs 65,000 crore is underway in Delhi and its nearby areas for the construction of roads, highways and expressways, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday. Work on an expressway connecting Delhi's Akshardham temple to Dehradun has started. Once it is completed, it will only take two hours to reach Dehradun from Delhi and one-and-a-half hours to reach Haridwar, the minister said in the Lok Sabha. "Rs 65,000-crore works are going on in Delhi and its adjoining areas. We have already constructed an expressway to Meerut. Works are also going on to connect Muzaffarnagar," he said. Gadkari said works to construct a peripheral road around Delhi are also going on.

Gadkari shifts focus: InvITs prevail over TOT for highway monetisation

Aiming to bid out Rs2 trn BOT projects before MCC kicks in

Tata Safari, Harrier first vehicles to get 5-star rating under Bharat-NCAP

Tata Motors said its SUVs Safari and Harrier have become the first recipients of the five-star rating for adult and child occupant protection as per the Bharat New Car Assessment Programme

Nitin Gadkari aims for road infrastructure to match US in next 5 years

India aims to elevate its road infrastructure to match that of the US within the next five years, said Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari. As part of a comprehensive strategy, the government seeks to alleviate metro congestion, significantly reduce travel time, and minimise road accidents, he said. In the preceding nine years, his ministry has allocated projects exceeding Rs 50 lakh crore and has streamlined the contract approval process by refining existing policies. "No contractor needs to come to me for sanctioning the contract. We are transparent, time- bound, result-oriented and quality conscious and fast in decision-making. We consider the ministry, contractors and bankers as one family. "We encourage good work, and that is why we have seven world records. This is the great achievement of the ministry," he said in an interview published in the Manorama Yearbook 2024. "I am confident that after five years, our road infrastructure will be equal to the US,"

India needs 1,000 scrapping centres, 400 fitness test points: Gadkari

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday said the country needs 1,000 vehicle scrapping centres and 400 automated fitness test centres. Launching DigiELV', Gadkari said the road ministry has so far approved 85 vehicle scrapping facilities across the country. "We need 1,000 vehicle scrapping centres in the country and at least 400 automated fitness test centres," he said. DigiELV is a trading platform for End of Life Vehicle Certificate of Deposit. Anyone who currently owns a Certificate of Deposit (CD) can sell the CD through the platform. A CD is issued when a user submits a vehicle for scrapping at an RVSF. Noting that the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy is a win-win for all stakeholders, the minister said that India can be a scrapping hub in South Asia. "Circular economy is very important and it is going to create jobs in the country," Gadkari said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy in August 2021 and said i

Will driverless cars run on Indian roads? Nitin Gadkari clears the air

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari firmly stated his opposition to the introduction of driverless cars in India

Capex on national highways rose to Rs 2.4 trl in 2022-23: Nitin Gadkari

Nitin Gadkari provided this information in a written reply in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. The NH network in the country has risen from 91,287 km in March 2014 to about 0.14 million km in 2023