Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. (File Photo/PTI)
To make India a $5 trillion economy as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the country needs to have world-class road infrastructure
Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Friday said India needs world class roads to make it a $5 trillion economy as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Addressing a gathering at Dumad near Vadodara city, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways assured that all highways in India would be of “world standards” by 2024.
He said, ‘Wherever you go in the country, you will find good quality national highways. Our country is changing. It is the dream of our PM to make India a developed and self-reliant nation which takes care of its poor and needy citizens.
“To make India a USD 5 trillion economy as envisioned by PM Narendra Modi, it is essential to have world-class road infrastructure in the country. And that is what we are trying to achieve,” Gadkari said.
Emphasizing on the need for better roads, the minister told the audience that former US President John F Kennedy once said that American roads are not good because America is rich but America is rich because American roads are good.
“In Gujarat, highway projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore are currently underway. I want to assure you that before the end of 2024, all the highways across the country will be of world class like American roads.
Gadkari also said that the ‘Signature Bridge’ connecting Okha to Bet Dwarka island in Gujarat’s Devbhoomi Dwarka district is nearing completion and will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister before Janmashtami in September.
The Union Minister was here to inaugurate the Rs 48 crore flyover, underpass and service road at Dumad Junction on the Surat-Ahmedabad National Highway 48.
According to Gadkari, the work of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, being built at a cost of one lakh crore rupees, has been completed till the Rajasthan border, while the remaining part till Mumbai will be ready in the next six months.
He said work is underway on the Surat-Chennai Expressway, the Amritsar-Jamnagar Expressway and between Sanchore in Rajasthan and Mehsana in Gujarat.
On the request of Vadodara Lok Sabha MP Ranjanben Bhatt, Gadkari approved the widening of an underpass at Chhani junction near the city and nine narrow bridges on the highway between Vadodara and Vapi.
(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed – PTI,
