Govt making 26 Green Express Highways, logistics park at cost of Rs 2 lakh crore

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari has said that the government is making 26 Green Express Highways and Logisitics park at an estimated cost of Rs 2 lakh crore.

"We are making 26 Green Express Highways and Logistics parks of Rs. 2 lakh crores. At the same time, we have many innovative ideas by which we can develop infrastructure further," Gadkari said while addressing National Conference for Civil Engineers and Professionals from Allied Industries, being organized by Association of Consulting Civil Engineers (ACCE) in Mumbai.

Gadkari added that he has decided to make Indian road infrastructure, even in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, up to the road infrastructure standards of USA, before end of 2024.

“In Indian infrastructure, there is huge potential for road construction, river connectivity, solid and liquid waste management, parking plaza, irrigation, busports, ropeways and cable car projects,” he said.

Union Transport Minister further said that the future of Indian infrastructure sector is very bright.

"We need to accept good technology, research, innovation and successful practices from across the world and from within India. We should use alternative materials to reduce cost without compromising on quality. Time is the most important aspect in construction, it is the biggest asset.”

The Minister underlined the role of civil engineers and said it is very important for job creation and for growth.

Pitching his idea of using greener alternatives in road construction, Union Transport Minister said: "You should find alternatives to cement and other raw materials. Glass fibre steel can be used in place of steel. If there is competition, cost will come down and become reasonable."

Propagating the idea of use of alternative fuels, Union Minister Gadkari said Green hydrogen is future fuel.

He said hydrogen can be made from petroleum, coal and biomass, organic waste and sewage water.

He further said “my dream is to make green hydrogen available at $1/kg which can be used in aviation, railway, bus, truck, chemical and fertilizer industry instead of coal and petroleum”.

Citing examples of Mumbai Pune Expressway and Worli Bandra Sealink to illustrate leveraging capital markets for public infrastructure projects, Gadkari said: "Under InvIT, our idea is to take money from poor people and give them 7%-8% monthly return on their money. We have decided to go for capital markets, we will sell shares of maximum Rs. 10 lakh to one person, they will invest and we can raise resources”, he said.

He further said NHAI is AAA-rated and has good economic viability.

“‘Our toll revenue at present is Rs. 40,000 crore per year, by end of 2024, it will become Rs. 1.4 lakh crore per year So, we don't have any problem of money’. He informed that 70% of Delhi-Mumbai Express Highway has already been completed. He said ‘My dream is to take citizens from Nariman Point, Mumbai to Delhi in 12 hours; we are now working to connect Nariman Point”.

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