India’s road infrastructure will surpass America's in future: Nitin Gadkari at Bhopal seminar

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday emphasized that India's road infrastructure will surpass that of the United States in the future, highlighting the need for efficient highways, waterways, and railways to reduce logistics costs and drive economic growth. Speaking at the inaugural session of a two-day seminar on "Latest Emerging Trends and Technologies in Road and Bridge Construction" in Bhopal, Gadkari took a swipe at consultants for preparing detailed project reports (DPR) from their homes without visiting sites, leading to costly errors in road construction.

Reflecting on his time as a minister in Maharashtra, Gadkari recalled a quote by former US President John F. Kennedy, displayed in his office: “American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good.” He remarked that this quote frequently caught the attention of his friend, the late industrialist Ratan Tata. “I am confident that in the coming years, India’s road infrastructure will be even better than that of America,” Gadkari told the audience, urging them to be part of this transformation.

The Union Minister shared an example from a helicopter survey of the Bangalore-Chennai highway, where he noticed several large towers obstructing the road’s alignment. Removing these towers would cost Rs 300-400 crore. Gadkari criticized the oversight and blamed it on consultants who draft DPRs without proper site inspections. He humorously remarked that such consultants deserved the 'Padma' award for their "home-bound" work.

Gadkari stressed that engineers must conduct thorough site visits to avoid disruptions caused by structures like temples and mosques in the path of road projects. He proposed that state governments engage engineering students to help rectify such DPR mistakes.

India currently has the world’s second-largest road network, spanning 63 lakh kilometers. However, Gadkari expressed concerns over the frequent emergence of potholes on asphalt roads, suggesting that white concrete topping, which lasts for 25 years, be adopted to end this problem. He also noted that India’s logistics cost is 14% of its GDP, compared to 8% in China and 12% in several developed nations. Reducing this cost to 9%, he said, would enhance exports and strengthen the economy.

Gadkari further advocated for biofuel usage to reduce the country’s Rs 22 lakh crore fossil fuel import bill and highlighted the importance of converting agricultural waste like paddy straw into biofuel. This shift, he said, would contribute to both energy generation and agricultural transformation.

Additionally, the minister suggested using segregated waste, such as plastic, in road construction, citing examples from cities like Chandigarh, Delhi, and Ahmedabad, where 80 lakh tonnes of garbage have been utilized in building roads. Addressing road safety concerns, Gadkari called for increased awareness and responsibility among citizens, pointing out that India loses 1.78 lakh people annually to road accidents—more than the casualties caused by the COVID pandemic or wars. These accidents, he said, lead to a 3% loss of the country’s GDP.

He concluded by urging efforts to identify accident-prone black spots and improve road engineering to save lives and protect the environment. The seminar was attended by Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Chief Secretary Anurag Jain, and other ministers.