AS MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Shri Gadkari Ji is one of the senior most members of the Shri Narendra Modi Ji’s government, is seen as a man of the masses, an accomplished social reformer, an adroit statesman & administrator. A seasoned politician, Gadkari has earned for himself the distinction of being a visionary thinker and deft executor.
During 2018-19, projects in about 5,494 km length were awarded and completion was achieved in about 10,855 km length of roads. The rate of development of roads has increased significantly from about 11.7 km during 2013-14 to about 30 km now.
Projects for 3211 km length have been awarded and 5958 km length has been constructed till November 2019.
National Highways (NHs) length has increased from 91,287 km in April, 2014 to about 1,32,500 km. as on 31.12.2019.
The Ministry has proposed to develop additional 60,000 kms of National Highways in the next five years, of which 2500 km are Express Ways/Access Controlled Highways, 9000 kms Economic Corridors, 2000 kms for Coastal and Port Connectivity Highways and 2000 kms Border Road/ Strategic Highways. The Ministry also intends to improve connectivity for 100 tourist destinations and construct Bypasses for 45 towns/cities during this period.
With a view to augmenting sources of funding for NH projects, the NHAI intends to raise Rupees one lakh crore through Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) Model of asset monetization in the next five years.
PROGRESS OF MAJOR PROGRAMMES/ LANDMARK PROJECTS
The work of major bridge across Sharavathi backwaters, approaches between Ambargodu and Kalasvali in Karnataka and 16 packages of Trans Rajasthan Highways project have been awarded.
A three-lane underpass inaugurated at Parade Road junction near Manekshaw Centre on NH 8 in New Delhi on 12.07.2019. With opening of this underpass, movement of traffic from Airport to Dhaula Kuan has become signal free.
Dasna-Hapur section of Delhi-Meerut Expressway (package-3) in Uttar Pradesh’s Pilakhuwa was inaugurated by the Hon’ble Minister, Shri Nitin Gadkari on 30th September, 2019. The completion of this section is expected to further help in decongesting the National Capital Region, bring down pollution levels and reduce travel time significantly.
The integrated bus ports in Cuttack (Odisha) and in Baddi (Himachal Pradesh) have been approved and the DPRs thereon are under progress.
NATIONAL ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION (NETC) PROGRAM
In order to save fuel, time and pollution and to ensure seamless movement of traffic, it was decided to enable all lanes in Fee Plazas for electronic toll collection program through FASTags. The Tolling systems would create a digital experience of seamless tolling for all the Highway users
DISCOURAGING THE USE OF ‘SINGLE-USE PLASTIC’
Shri Gadkari Ji directed all offices/officers/staff to stop use of ‘Single-Use Plastic’ in office premises, and also to use locally produced environment-friendly products such as Kulhads, clay glasses/plates etc. in place of harmful plastic products.
THE MOTOR VEHICLES (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2019
This Act has ensured citizen facilitation, transparency, and reduced corruption with the help of information technology and removing intermediaries. It further strengthened public transport, safeguarded and protected Good Samaritan and reformed the insurance and compensation regime. It has allowed innovation and new technologies such as driverless vehicles, to be tested in live environment and increase efficiency in research.
The Act facilitated Divyang by allowing motor vehicles to be converted to adapted vehicles with post-facto approval and facilitating licence to drive adapted vehicles. The provisions of compensation and post – accident treatment have been amended and measures will be taken provide cashless treatment for accident victims.
