Nitin Gadkari urges swift action on Rs 30 billion road projects

On Monday, Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister of Road, Transport, and Highways, instructed officials from his ministry, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), to develop a roadmap for the immediate execution of projects valued at up to Rs 30 billion. The minister also emphasised the need to resolve issues related to these projects promptly and warned of consequences for any delays in their execution.Gadkari's directive came after he conducted a review of the performance of regional officers within his ministry and assessed the progress of projects overseen by NHAI and NHIDCL in the national capital.In a call for close coordination and cooperation, Gadkari urged officials to propose land acquisition plans and swiftly initiate projects worth Rs 20 to 30 billion in both Build Operate and Transfer (BOT) and Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). He emphasised the importance of granting approvals and commencing these projects promptly to alleviate the burden on the annual plan, which includes NHAI, NHIDCL, and ministry projects. Gadkari made it clear that he was prepared to take action if the work was not completed on time and stressed the need for transparency and adherence to timelines.While acknowledging the hard work of officials, Gadkari urged regional officers and project directors to resolve project-related issues at their level, emphasising the visibility and impact of social media on project delays. He expressed a commitment to addressing problems promptly, noting that issues reported in the media could lead to official notices.Gadkari also inquired about the progress of projects in the previous annual plan, with projects valued at approximately Rs 35 million. He urged officials to resolve long-standing issues, explore the possibility of converting projects into BOT or Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models, and address issues with state government projects, including contractor changes where necessary.