Indian road infrastructure will be equal to the standard of USA by 2024: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari

Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways has said that by the end of 2024 India will have road infrastructure equivalent to that of the USA.

Speaking at FICCI's annual convention meeting in New Delhi on December 16, Gadkari stated, "We are making world standard road infrastructure in the country and I am promising you that before end of 2024, our road infrastructure will be equal to the standard of the USA."

He stressed on the fact that advanced road infrastructure and the use of sustainable fuel for automobiles can help reduce export costs.

"Logistic cost is a big problem, presently it comes to 16 per cent of GDP," he said, and promised that by the end of 2024 the figure will reduce to 9 per cent. "By reducing the logistic cost, we will be more compatible in the world market," he added. 

Sustainable development goal (SDG) has been one of the major agendas of India's G20 Presidency and after the recent COP27 meeting, India has become more vocal and proposed several initiatives to achieve SDGs. Even Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has mentioned that addressing climate issues has become one of the priorities for the Indian economy.
 
While India focuses on the green economy, Gadkari stressed the need to save alternative fossil fuels for automobiles and also use green hydrogen as a sustainable fuel. He opined that the use of such fuels will also create various new job opportunities. 

"Alternative fuel solutions will create huge business opportunities all over the country. Out of the total deliverable power generated, 38 per cent of the electricity generated is from solar energy. It has been targeted to 60 per cent," the Minister for Road Transport & Highways said.

The Minister stressed on the fact that the country aims to develop automobiles that will run completely on bio-ethanol and thereby bring about a change in the economic situation of the country.

"India is in an excellent position to shape itself as an energy exporter. This can only be possible due to the potential of green hydrogen in India," added he.