Page 14 - Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari inaugurates 3 road overbridges in Lakhimpur Kheri to reduce traffic

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday inaugurated three road overbridges in Lakhimpur Kheri through video-conferencing and said this will ease traffic congestion and add to the convenience of people. These overbridges have been built at Chhouch crossing, LRP crossing and Rajapur crossing on the Pilibhit-Basti national highway at a cost of Rs 297 crore. Virtually addressing a programme held at the LRP crossing, Gadkari lauded Union MoS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra. "The three road overbridges (ROBs) came into existence on the initiatives of Union MoS Home Ajay Kumar Mishra, who strived to push up these projects," he said. Gadkari highlighted that the three overbridges were completed in January 2024 two months before the stipulated time of March 2024. Speaking on the occasion, Mishra thanked Gadkari for acceding to his request for the overbridges and putting them into a reality in a record time. Mishra said that soon three more overbridges -- one on the Ghaghra river, other on the Shard

Jammu-Srinagar national highway remains closes, 400 vehicles stranded

The arterial Jammu-Srinagar national highway remained closed for the second day on Friday due to landslip at various places, officials said. Authorities were trying to clear the landslip debris and restore the traffic on the road connecting Kashmir to rest of the country. More than 400 vehicles are stranded at various places along the highway, the officials said. The 270-km road was closed for traffic on Thursday following landslip at several places, including Sherbibi, Magerkote, Mehad Cafeteria and Dalwas, along the highway, the officials said.

This budget will take India closer to being third-largest economy: Gadkari

Last year in December, Prime Minister Narendra Modi promised to make India the third-largest economy in the world in his third consecutive term

Disability sector can contribute $1 trn to economy by 2047, says expert

India's specially-abled population can actively contribute USD 1 trillion to the country's economy by 2047, according to a prominent Indian-American leader in the sector. Pranav Desai, the founder of the Voice of Specially Abled People, recently travelled to India and met top leaders of the ruling BJP in New Delhi including Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and BJP president J P Nadda; the Gujarat Chief minister in Ahmedabad to present his vision document for the cause. He also travelled to Goa for a volunteer meeting. In an interview with PTI, Desai said that with proper strategy, policy and action, India's specially-abled population can actively contribute to the nation's economic growth, ultimately achieving a USD 1 trillion contribution to the disability sector by 2047 in Viksit Bharat. India can be a leader in this sector. My proposal was well received in New Delhi, Desai said, referring to his conversations with the top leadership in India. Desai said in his meeting with ..

Nitin Gadkari proposes use of non-functional coal mines in Vidarbha

Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday said those coal mines in Maharashtra's Vidarbha region and WCL areas which are economically not viable, produce low-quality coal, and where mining is almost stopped can be used for coal gasification projects. He was addressing a session on 'coal gasification' at the Advantage Vidarbha event in Nagpur city which was attended by coal secretary Amritlal Meena, Niti Aayog member VK Saraswat and Coal India Limited (CIL) chairman PM Prasad among others. During his speech, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways asked the CIL and the Coal Ministry whether "coal mines which are economically not viable and those with low-quality coal and where mining is almost stopped in Vidarbha and Western Coal Fields (WCL) areas" could be used for coal gasification projects. He also pitched for the use of non-viable coal blocks and low-quality ones under WCL areas for coal gasification. The Union minister backed public-private partnerships in coal gasification

Govt to adopt qualitative tendering process instead of L1 system: Gadkari

The highways ministry will shift to quality-cum-cost based system for the selection of bids for various road construction-related projects in place of the age-old least-cost selection process, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said. The move is aimed at improving the quality of various infrastructure-related works in the country, the minister said at an event organised by the International Road Federation (IRF). Gadkari further said road engineering solutions must be taken care of while preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPR). "The road ministry will soon be adopting a qualitative tendering process instead of the least cost bidding process to bring in quality and road safety in various projects. "Qualitative tendering will help incorporate road safety features in designs keeping in mind the behaviour of the road users," the Road Transport and Highways minister said. Gadkari said bad road engineering is the biggest culprit for increasing road accidents in the country. Elaborating furt

PM Modi to lay foundation stones of 8 AMRUT projects in Maharashtra today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate and lay the foundation stones of several development projects in Maharashtra's Solapur on Friday, according to an official release. At a public programme scheduled to be held around 10.45 am in the southern Maharashtra city, he will lay the foundation stones of eight AMRUT (Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation) projects in the state worth around Rs 2,000 crore, it said. He will also dedicate more than 90,000 houses built under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban). Further, the PM will dedicate 15,000 houses of the Raynagar Housing Society in Solapur whose beneficiaries include thousands of "handloom workers, vendors, powerloom workers, rag pickers, Bidi workers and drivers", it said. Modi will also kickstart the distribution of the first and second instalments to 10,000 beneficiaries of PM-SVANIDHI in Maharashtra during the programme, it added.

Govt may support initiatives to retrofit old vehicles into EVs: Report

The government may look for providing incentives or supporting initiatives to retrofit old vehicles into electric vehicles instead of scrapping them, a report said on Thursday. According to the joint report by management consultancy firm Primus Partners and ETB (European Business and Technology Centre), transitioning the internal combustion engine-powered vehicles to electric vehicles through retrofitting presents a spectrum of challenges. However, with a coordinated approach involving government initiatives, industry collaboration, and public engagement, these challenges can be effectively addressed and overcome, it said. India's Vehicle Scrappage Policy is aimed at phasing out old and unfit vehicles and replacing them with newer and more environment-friendly ones. This policy is governed by various factors including the fitness and emission levels of vehicles rather than solely their age. Commercial vehicles over 15 years and passenger vehicles over 20 years of age are subject t

Committed to enhance eye care infrastructure across nation: Nitin Gadkari

Sharp Sight Eye Hospital's new facility is spread across 45,000 square feet hospital and can serve over 1000 patients daily in its Outpatient Department (OPD)

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.