Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that development and progress are continuous processes, with innovation, technology and sustainability forming the backbone of India’s future growth.
Addressing the India News Manch, Gadkari said change is unfolding rapidly across all sectors, not just in lifestyle or consumption patterns. “Development and progress are continuous processes. Changes are happening at a very large scale—not only in lifestyle or clothing, but across all sectors,” he said.
Highlighting the growing role of technology, the minister noted that knowledge today is deeply intertwined with agriculture, industry and infrastructure. “Innovation, entrepreneurship, science, technology, research, schemes and successful practices together form knowledge, and conversion of knowledge into wealth is the future,” he said.
Emphasising sustainability, Gadkari reiterated his long-held belief that efficient resource utilisation must go hand in hand with inclusive growth. “No material is waste and no person should be left behind,” he said.
The minister said the road sector has undergone significant transformation in recent years, adding that the visible progress marks only the beginning. He pointed to extensive ongoing work on highways, tunnels, bridges, ropeways, cable cars and funicular railways. “We are working on 260 projects, including green express highways, ropeways and cable cars,” he said.
Citing innovative funding mechanisms, Gadkari referred to the Kedarnath ropeway project as a model example. “The project cost is ₹5,000 crore, but we are not spending a single rupee. Instead, the company will pay us ₹800 crore annually as royalty,” he said.
On waste management, the minister said solid and liquid waste are increasingly being put to productive use in road construction. “We have already used around 80 lakh tonnes of waste in road projects across Delhi, Dwarka, the Delhi–Mumbai Highway and the Ahmedabad–Dholera road,” he said.
He also spoke about crop residue management, noting that stubble is now being converted into ethanol, bio-CNG, bio-bitumen and sustainable aviation fuel. “Farmers are no longer just food providers; they are becoming energy providers,” Gadkari said.
Addressing concerns over road safety, the minister acknowledged engineering lapses and said strict action was being taken against erring contractors and officials. “I want to send 10–20 contractors to jail and blacklist them. Officers will also be suspended if there are deficiencies,” he said, stressing that perfection in road engineering is non-negotiable.
Gadkari added that enforcement has been tightened and safety systems upgraded, including stricter helmet rules and improved emergency response. “Anyone who helps an accident victim reach a hospital will be awarded ₹25,000,” he said.
On public transport, the minister emphasised the need to reduce dependence on private vehicles. He highlighted new electric buses equipped with modern amenities, noting that fares are about 30 per cent cheaper than diesel buses, while offering comfort comparable to air travel.
Reflecting on his own journey, Gadkari said innovation does not necessarily stem from formal degrees. “I am not a scientist or an engineer. The greatest knowledge in life is practical knowledge,” he said.
Concluding, the minister reiterated that technology-driven, sustainable infrastructure would define India’s growth trajectory. “If roads improve, exports will increase, logistics costs will fall, and India will soon become number one in the world,” he asserted.
