Central Transportation Minister, Nitin Gadkari, recently announced that the ambitious Delhi Mumbai Expressway project will be completed by the upcoming month of February. This expressway is designed to connect two major cities, enabling travelers to complete their journey in a mere 12 hours. Gadkari emphasized the quality assurance in the construction of this expressway.
A notable point Gadkari raised was about the broader infrastructural development in the nation. He mentioned that a robust network of double and four-lane expressways is being laid out across different parts of the country. The projects around Delhi alone are worth approximately 65,000 crores.
Connecting India through Expressways
Gadkari’s vision is clear: he aims to integrate the entire country with expressways. Efforts are being made to ensure seamless travel from Kashmir in the North to Kanyakumari in the South. The government recognizes the significance of superior roads for economic progress and is thus overcoming obstacles to achieve this goal. To illustrate the progress, Gadkari highlighted that nearly 90% of the road construction from Pithoragarh to Mansarovar has already been completed. Additionally, the Amritsar-Bhavnagar project is another significant initiative.
Extending Road Connections to Neighboring Countries
The minister also pointed out ongoing efforts to extend road connectivity beyond India’s borders. Current projects include the Green Expressway from Surat to Nashik, then onto Ahmadnagar and Solapur. Moreover, there’s a push to connect not only to neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal but even as far as Myanmar. Such road connectivity will provide significant advantages for trade.
Furthermore, addressing some controversies, Gadkari clarified that there’s been no malpractice in the Dwarka Expressway project. He urged the opposition to provide concrete evidence instead of making baseless allegations and assured a response if valid evidence is presented.
