‘India Will Have Better Roads Than America Soon’, says Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Bhopal: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday said that India’s road infrastructure will soon surpass that of America. He emphasized that improved highways, waterways, and railways can significantly reduce logistics costs and drive economic growth.

He also criticized consultants who create detailed project reports (DPR) for roads, claiming they do so from the comfort of their homes. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways made these remarks during the opening session of a two-day seminar in Bhopal focused on "Latest Emerging Trends and Technologies in Road and Bridge Construction."

Gadkari recalled that when he was a minister in Maharashtra , he had a quote by former US President John F Kennedy in his office: “American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good.” 

Nitin Gadkari says Indian Roads To Be Better Than America Soon

“In the coming time, Indian road infrastructure will be even better than that of America. We will do it,” Gadkari said. He told the participants of the seminar that they could bring about this change.

Sharing his experience of a helicopter survey of the Bangalore-Chennai highway, Gadkari said he noticed three to four “big towers” coming in the way of the highway’s alignment and was told that it would cost Rs 300-400 crore to remove them.

Gadkari said he told an official that the towers could have been avoided during the highway’s construction, thus saving the cost of their removal.

“While agreeing with me, the official said it happened because of those who prepared the DPR (detailed project report)... Those who prepare DPR are great people... They deserve the ‘Padma’ award... They prepare the DPR on Google by sitting at home,” Gadkari said.

“Such people apologise when mistakes like a wrong alignment are pointed out,” he added.

(With inputs from PTI)