India needs $1 trillion for new roads, ports, airports: Highways Minister
India’s Road Transport & Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said the country requires $1 trillion for the development of new roads, ports and airports over the next few years. Upgrading infrastructure is a major challenge for policy makers of the Asia's third largest economy and India needs about $1 trillion (about Rs 67,00,000 crore) for new roads, ports and airports over the next few years,” said Gadkari at the inaugural edition of Rajya Sabha Television's programme 'Spotlight'. National Democratic Government (NDA) government is set to transform India's infrastructure and added there is no dearth of funds for this priority area. Confident of removing bureaucratic hurdles in the way of road projects, the minister said companies in the sector are victims of the government's indecisiveness and the need for multiple approvals. He said the government had several rounds of discussions with bankers and contractors to clarify issues relating to land acquisition and project approval. In the next five years we are going to change the infrastructure of this country. I know my work, I am doing it. Building of infrastructure will add 2 per cent to the India's GDP growth, said the minister. Gadkari said his ministry is working on a target of 30 km of new roads per day by March 31 besides working towards achieving an ambitious target of 100 km a day.
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