‘Better than America…’: Nitin Gadkari asserts India’s roads to be comparable to US in 2 years, adds ‘main picture yet to start’
India’s road infrastructure would rival that of America within two years, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Monday. Highlighting Modi government’s increased investment in roads and highways during the past decade, Gadkari said that projects are progressing well.“The question is not about the facelift, it has already changed. You have just watched the news reel, the main picture is yet to start,” Gadkari told ANI. He mentioned that certain American visitors had acknowledged that India’s infrastructure surpassed their own. “Some people from America met me and said our infrastructure is better than America,” he said.“The projects in the pipeline are progressing rapidly. In another two years, you will be able to see that Indian road infrastructure will be similar to that of America,” the Minister of Road Transport and Highways said when questioned about the transformation of Indian roads.Also Read | USBRL project: Chenab bridge, Anji & new Vande Bharat trains – Kashmir finally gets Indian Railways connectivity with rest of India; top 25 stunning factsGadkari explained that the improved road network developed by the government has decreased logistics expenses in India, which will enhance export competitiveness.“If we raise our exports, it will improve our agricultural sector, manufacturing, and services, among all other sectors,” he said.Gadkari highlighted that India’s primary challenge in the past has been its high logistics cost of 16%, compared to China’s 8% and the US and European nations’ 12%.“Our roads were not good, our ports were not good. Traffic congestion raised costs,” he explained. The Modi government has successfully reduced logistics costs to 9% through enhanced road infrastructure, according to Gadkari. “This reduced cost will make us export competitive,” he reiterated.The minister outlined ongoing projects, including 25 greenfield expressways, a 3,000 km port connectivity highway, and religious tourism circuit roads valued at Rs 1 lakh crore.Also Read | Indian Railways to achieve net zero targets in 2025 itself – 5 years ahead of 2030 goalHe highlighted plans for connecting Buddhist circuits and ensuring all-weather access to Char Dhams.“We are developing 36 tunnels between Jammu and Srinagar; 23 have been completed, and works for another 4-5 are underway,” Gadkari said. “We are developing 15 ropeways under Parvatmala Yojana, besides 35 multi-modal logistics parks.”India maintains the world’s second-largest network of roads, with National Highways extending approximately 146,000 kilometres, serving as the nation’s crucial transport arteries.
