Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Union Road Transport and Highways, is driving to achieve better highway connectivity in various states. He has recently sanctioned a six-lane greenfield corridor from Akkalkot in Maharashtra to Singnodi in Raichur district, Karnataka. On completion, this will be the shortest and fastest highway connecting the Kalyana Karnataka region with Bengaluru and Mumbai. The minister has also inaugurated and laid the foundation stone for as many as 51 national highway projects with an investment of Rs.21,559 crore in Vijaywada, Andhra Pradesh, covering 1,380 km. He believes that improved road connectivity in the coastal area will give a boost to tourism and create employment opportunities for the urban and rural youth.