Gadkari Urges Industry to Manufacture Tunnel Boring Machines
Road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari encouraged the industry to prioritize the domestic development of tunnel machinery, as India aims to invest over Rs 7 lakh crore to Rs 8 lakh crore in tunnel development for metro and hydro projects, among other initiatives, in the upcoming five years.
Regarding ethanol blended fuel, Gadkari stated that the uproar over incorporating 20 percent ethanol in petrol was a ‘paid campaign’, emphasizing that blended fuel could aid India in conserving valuable foreign exchange by lessening fossil fuel imports.
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Gadkari’s comments followed the government's announcement of amendments to the Central Motor Vehicles Rules 1989, permitting flex-fuel vehicles capable of operating on up to E100 (almost pure ethanol).
Acknowledging several complaints regarding the substandard condition of various highway segments, Gadkari mentioned that an evaluation of 700-800 projects has been conducted utilizing Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs). Emphasizing the importance of infrastructure development to achieve the government’s goal of positioning India as the third largest economy, Gadkari stated that top-notch infrastructure is essential to draw in capital investment and generate employment.
Gadkari stated that the government is focusing on road construction, encompassing expressways and green express highways, to enhance connectivity nationwide and reduce logistics costs within the country.
Gadkari mentioned that the government has finished 80-85 percent of the Char Dham project, and traffic in the area has increased three times. "Infrastructure development forms the foundation of the Indian economy," he stated. India's overall highway system extends to 1,46,572 km from 91,000 km in 2014, while infrastructure spending currently amounts to Rs 16 lakh crore compared to Rs 2 lakh crore.
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“Every Rs 100 spent on infrastructure could generate an economic impact of Rs 325,” he said,” adding this will add to India’s GDP.
“India’s logistic cost has already come down to nine percent from 16 percent on the back of infrastructure development across India,” he says.
Gadkari mentioned that the government has initiatives valued at Rs 1 lakh crore concerning religious tourism and tunnel projects amounting to Rs 2 lakh crore. “The country has significant potential for tourism and better road connectivity could help attract tourists to more destinations,” he says.
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Gadkari stated that greenfield expressways could enhance connectivity for districts that have not gained significantly from economic growth and assist businesses in establishing facilities in these regions, thereby supporting the overall development of the area.