Transport min Gadkari says over Rs 50k cr of road projects earmarked for Rajasthan

Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday announced that his ministry would invest more than Rs 50,000 crore in Rajasthan for the development of roads and roadside amenities in the next two years. Gadkari was speaking after an “Award of Sanctions of road projects worth Rs 25,445.27 crore by Centre to Rajasthan” which was signed by the Principal Secretary of PWD D B Gupta, Virendra Kaul (from union ministry) and NHAI Chairman Raghvendra Chandra in presence of Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and state PWD and Transport Minister Yunus Khan.  “We would invest more than Rs 50,000 crore in two years in Rajasthan with special reference to roads and national highways,” the minister said adding, every state should adopt transparency in system, fast track decision, vision and change in mindset. He also said the country’s first ‘Highway Village’ (known as Waste and Amenities Highway Village) would be set up in Chittorgarh which would provide jobs to 300 youths. Of the 1200 planned highway villages, the ministry has selected seven. The Chittorgarh village would have amenities like restaurant, handicraft shops, fruit bar, petrol pump, entertainment, facilities for truck drivers and toilets connected to gas conversion plants, he said. Gadkari said it is the country’s need to produce ethanol, bio-diesel, bio-CNG from toilet waste for which Highway Village would be a better destination. It would be beneficial for creating employment as well. “The conversion of waste into energy and conversion of knowledge into wealth should be a formula for Make in India mission which Prime Minister launched,” he said. PTI