Nitin Gadkari press conference highlights: BharatMala, SagarMala to be 'varmala' of India, says minister

BharatMala and SagarMala linked

SagarMala is different from BharatMala, said Gadkari. SagarMala has an outlay of Rs 16 lakh crore. It is to do with shipping, ports and waterways. Do not confuse it with BharatMala, he said. Y_eh do mala alag hai aur varmala ban kar desh ko jodega,_ said Gadkari

Ports are profitable, says Gadkari

We are giving connectivity in 22 places and spending Rs 25,000 crore on it, the Minister said. It will boost economic growth. The 22 points will include bus services between Bangladesh and Nepal. Bangladesh, Myanmar and Bhutan are linked with the North East; Nepal has connectivity with Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Along with this, there are 12 major ports. All our ports are profitable and we will have Rs 25,000 crore profit through ports, says Minister

Railways should improve ahead of roadways, says Minister

There are 36 percent accidents on national highways, I must admit, says Nitin Gadkari. “Our goal is not just to make good roads but also to save 50 percent of people’s lives who die because of road accidents. By building roads, there will be economic activity. With BharatMala project, our first priority is waterways, railways and then roadways. We will try and improve Railways so that it can progress ahead of Roadways.

Rs 1.20 lakh crore to be spent on economic corridors

We will be spending Rs 1.20 lakh crore on economic corridors. Not only distance, but also fuel consumption will be saved by the creation of these corridors. It will also reduce pollution.  We have identified 34 places where roads will be lengthened, Gadkari said.

44 economic corridors to be created

In this program, the creation of jobs will be huge. In each site 500-800 people will get employment. We will create 44 economic corridors. We will create 35 logistic parks and 700 roadside amenities, said the Minister.

BharatMala will change the image of India, says Gadkari

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Gadkari said that the Ministry has selected tribal roads, border roads, religious and adventure zone, economic backward zone and looked at an integrated package to accelerate the country’s growth engine.

BharatMala project expected to create 30-34 cr mandays

BharatMala project will generate 30-34 crore mandays. As any road artery is developed and especially if it is a greenfield one, the scope is unlimited.

Technology to be used continuously in project

We will use technology to map the road condition besides look at riding quality of roads and signages, too. Once a year in stretches which are used a lot, we will capture through technology pre and post monsoon condiwill be captured through these systems. The total outlay is 6.92 lakh crores to be used in next two years.

Maintenance of highways

There is 183 sites for wayside amenities for passenger, driver and vehicle comfort. These will be brought in two years and will provide employment and reduce road accidents

Hub-and-spoke model

600 districts were studied and length, time taken, alternate routes that can be taken, and we focussed on shortest route and time taken. The mInistry wants to bring real value by shortening 20-25 time for consumers. We have done traffic survey, multiple checks, scientific basis taken into account while mapping the roads. As part of economic corridor, we are looking at development of logistics park as a value to the chain. It works on a hub and spoke model and that is where the importance of logistics park take shape. Their development will add value and reduce costs of logistics aroudn 5-6 percent and is a huge saving in growth of economy

BharatMala project in phases

24,800 kms of roads will be taken up in Phase 1 of BharatMala project. Residual works of NHP which is 10,000 kms has been collected. Hence the total is 35,000 at an estimated cost of Rs 5,35 lakh.

Port connectivity

A large number of ports dont have seamless connectivity. We will develop roads for port connectivity. Ring roads and bypasses — 28 towns have been identified for the same.

Space tech used

National Corridor efficiency improvement in terms of taking to 4-6 lanes and also addressing choke points — these will be proposed to be brought around. Economic corridors have been identified and have been revalidated using space technology. It has gone through three layers.

BharatMala project to be finished by March 2022

NHDP has been largest road sector programmes getting implemented through 7 phases. We have reached a stage where the benefits of NHDP, wherever there are missing gaps and have to be optimalised, that is where BharatMala has been conceptualised to be finished by March 2022, over a five year period program, says Ashok Lavasa, Finance Secretary

Focus on road dev will ensure investments, say expert

The Narendra Modi government’s announcement on Tuesday of Rs 7 lakh crore investment in building roads over the next five years finally gave shape to the oft-discussed Bharatmala project.  Experts have hailed the announcements saying infrastructure investments will boost the economic activities.

Manish B Agarwal, Partner and Leader, Infrastructure, PwC India said: “The focus on roads that connect economic centers will help ensure investments are focussed on economic returns.”