Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has announced that by the end of 2025, the travel time from Panipat in Haryana to Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport will be reduced from three hours to under 30 minutes. This development is part of a large-scale infrastructure overhaul under the Modi government’s urban decongestion plan, with over Rs 1.2 trillion (approx. USD 14.4 billion) worth of projects already completed or underway in the National Capital Region.
Gadkari highlighted the readiness of Urban Extension Road-2 (UER-2), including completed tunnel links to the airport, awaiting the Prime Minister’s official inauguration. He emphasised the goal of freeing Delhi from congestion and pollution, calling it the “heart of the country”.
The government’s infrastructure vision includes the completion of the Delhi-Dehradun and Delhi-Jaipur access-controlled corridors by December. An additional Rs 250–300 billion in projects is also planned in coordination with the Delhi government.
Beyond mobility, Gadkari stressed economic transformation through logistics cost reduction. India’s logistics cost, which was once 16 per cent of GDP, has now fallen to 10 per cent, he said, citing reports from IIM Bangalore and IITs. The goal is to bring it below 10 per cent, thereby boosting exports, agriculture, services, and manufacturing.
His ministry is constructing 36 greenfield expressways and investing Rs 1.5 trillion (USD 18 billion) in port connectivity under the PM Gati Shakti initiative. Roads are being linked to industrial zones, religious sites, and border areas. He cited examples like the Char Dham project in Uttarakhand (Rs 120 billion), the Buddha Circuit (Rs 220 billion), and works in Ayodhya, Mathura, Pandharpur and Dehu.
Gadkari outlined three key goals for the ministry: reducing pollution through green fuels, improving road safety, and building mass rapid electric transport systems.
In Bengaluru, which faces chronic congestion, his ministry is exploring elevated mobility options including ropeways, skybuses and cable cars. With no space to widen roads, underground tunnels are also under study. The Rs 170 billion ring road project is nearing completion and expressways to Mysuru and Chennai are expected by year-end.
He confirmed consultations with the Karnataka government for better city-centre connectivity and congestion solutions. Bengaluru, he stated, must have infrastructure that reflects its status as India’s knowledge capital.
Regarding highway funding, Gadkari promoted the InvIT model, offering over 8 per cent annual returns. He said the model is inclusive and allows citizens to profit from national infrastructure growth. “India’s roads should be funded by Indians, with returns going back to them,” he said.
On alternative fuels, he remains a passionate advocate. “I drive a flex-fuel car running on 100 per cent ethanol, costing just Rs 25 per litre effectively,” he said. He also owns a hydrogen-powered vehicle and highlighted growth in electric mobility, including buses and two-wheelers. Over 670 charging stations are being installed on highways.
Gadkari also spoke about road safety, noting that 180,000 people die annually in accidents. Rs 400 billion has been allocated to address accident black spots. However, he stressed behavioural change—such as helmet use and lane discipline—is essential alongside engineering efforts.
He acknowledged delays in GPS-based tolling but said nationwide rollout will begin within a year. New systems will integrate license-plate recognition and bank-linked payments, billing only for the exact distance travelled.
On national defence and political questions, Gadkari defended Operation Sindoor and highlighted India’s defence exports, which have reached Rs 250 billion. He dismissed criticism by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, saying public mandates must be respected.
He refrained from speculating on the potential reunion between Maharashtra’s Thackeray cousins, though he expressed personal goodwill toward both.
Finally, on leadership, he compared Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s and Narendra Modi’s governance styles by saying that though methods evolve with technology, the mission to make India self-reliant and a top global economy remains the same.
