Gadkari plans to revamp all national highways

Pledging to revamp all national highways in the country, ministry of road transport and highways under ministership of Nitin Gadkari said that the government has planned to build 30 km of roads a day and remove hurdles facing Rs 1.5 lakh crore projects.

While spelling out the achievements of his ministry, Gadkari also unveiled that an overseas arm of highway builder NHAI (National Highways Authority of India), to bid and construct roads overseas and formation of National Highways & Infrastructure Development Company, primarily dedicated for implementing highways projects along borders are on the anvil.

‘In two years time road transport and highways sector will undergo revolutionary changes. Transport and shipping sectors will contribute at least 2 per cent increase in the country’s GDP in two years span,’ Gadkari said addressing the media here on completion of 100 days.

On the question of makeover of bumpy roads in West Bengal, Gadkari said, ‘I’m going to meet state chief minister Mamata Banerjee very soon and will discuss about different plans to develop road infrastructure in the state.’ 

The union minister further vowed that he will pump in all needed support to the state government for the betterment of roads.

Bengal’s highway stretches, where widening has been proposed, include NH-2 (Kolkata-Delhi) that’s also known as Grand Trunk Road, national highway 31D, 60, 55 and 117. 

The mega project of widening Bengal’s lifeline, NH 34, from a two-lane stretch to four lanes, is also likely to be taken up.  The widening of NH34 that connects Kolkata with Dalkhola in North Dinajpur and NH31D, which links Siliguri to the Assam border, have hit land hurdles.