BIG Infra push! Aim to construct 60,000 km world-class NH by 2024, Rs 111 lakh crore allocated for infrastructure development, says Nitin Gadkari

In a big boost to India's infra push, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that India has the second largest road network.  "India is about 63 lakh kilometre of the road network, which is the second-largest in the world. Road infrastructure plays a critical role in the growth of the Indian economy," Gadkari said. The Road Transport and Highways Minister was speaking at the 16th annual conference on `Road Development in India` 

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The government has also allocated Rs 111 lakh crores for different infrastructural developments and upped infra Capex by 34 per cent to Rs 5.54 lakh crore this year. "The government is investing 1.4 trillion dollars (Rs 111 lakh crores) in infrastructure development through National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP). The government has increased year-on-year infrastructure Capex by 34 per cent to Rs 5.54 lakh crore this year," news agency ANI tweeted quoting Nitin Gadkari.   

Nitin Gadkari also said that he plans to lay National highway at the rate of 40 kilometre per day. "The aim is to construct 60,000 kilometres of the world-class national highway by 2024, at the rate of 40 kilometre per day," he said during the `Road Development in India` conference.  

India is about 63 lakh km of the road network, which is the second-largest in the world. Road infrastructure plays a critical role in the growth of the Indian economy: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari at 16th annual conference on 'Road Development in India' yesterday pic.twitter.com/We7BW7589c

— ANI (@ANI) July 9, 2021

On Friday, Gadkari also told news agency PTI that the Road Transport and Highways Ministry will seek the Cabinet's approval for allowing construction of smart cities, townships, logistic parks and industrial clusters along the national highways. 

Addressing a virtual event, Gadkari said his aim is to construct world-class highway networks and the road transport and highways ministry has chalked out a plan for monetising existing highways projects for infra capital generation. 

"And now we have prepared a cabinet note for approval ....for making roadside townships, smart cities, logistic parks, industrial clusters," he said. 

 "We are making 400 roadside amenities," Gadkari added.  

The minister also said that his ministry is planning to construct tunnels worth Rs 2.5 lakh crore. 

Gadkari also said that use of steel and cement should be reduced in road construction without compromising on quality through innovation and research. 

He said CNG, LNG and ethanol should be used for the road equipment machinery. 

The minister emphasised on import substitution, cost effective, pollution free and indigenous methods and development of alternative fuel .