Prime Minister Modi wished Nitin Gadkari on his 68th birthday, praised his contribution to India’s infrastructure

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, celebrated his 68th birthday on May 27, 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his wishes, acknowledging Gadkari’s significant contributions to India’s infrastructure development.

Known as the “Highway Man of India,” Gadkari has spearheaded transformative changes in the country’s road and transport sectors. Here are some of his notable achievements:

Road and Highway Development

• Expansion of National Highway Network: Under his leadership, the national highway network expanded from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1,46,195 km by 2024, marking a 60% increase.
• Increase in Four-Lane Highways: The length of four-lane and above highways grew from 18,387 km in 2014 to 46,179 km in 2024, a 2.5-fold rise.
• Accelerated Construction Pace: The daily construction rate surged from 3 km/day in 2014 to 30 km/day in 2024.

Major Infrastructure Projects

• Delhi–Mumbai Expressway: A 1,386 km greenfield expressway connecting Delhi and Mumbai, with significant sections already operational.
• Delhi–Meerut Expressway: This project reduced travel time between Delhi and Meerut from 2 hours to 45 minutes.
• New Zuari Bridge (Goa): Inaugurated in December 2022, it’s India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge.
• Sudarshan Setu (Gujarat): A 2.32 km cable-stayed bridge connecting Okha and Bet Dwarka, opened in February 2024.
• New Koilwar Bridge (Bihar): A 1.52 km six-lane bridge over the Sone River, completed in May 2022.

Vehicle Safety and Environmental Initiatives

• FASTag Implementation: Introduced electronic toll collection to reduce congestion and fuel consumption.
• BS6 Emission Standards: Enforced stricter emission norms to curb vehicular pollution.
• Enhanced Vehicle Safety: Made dual airbags mandatory in new cars and proposed six airbags for enhanced safety.

Promotion of Electric and Alternative Fuels

• FAME Scheme: Provided subsidies for electric vehicles, leading to a 41% increase in EV sales.
• Alternative Fuels: Promoted the use of CNG, ethanol, hydrogen, and flex-fuel vehicles.

Water Resource Management

Namami Gange Project: Launched in June 2014, the Namami Gange Programme is an integrated conservation mission aimed at rejuvenating the Ganga River and its tributaries. With a budget outlay of ₹22,500 crore for 2023–26, the programme focuses on effective pollution abatement, conservation, and rejuvenation of the river. Key interventions include creating sewage treatment capacity, riverfront development, river surface cleaning, biodiversity conservation, and afforestation. As of October 2023, the government had released ₹16,011.65 crore to the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), with 450 projects undertaken, of which 270 have been completed and made operational.

River Linking Projects: Under the National Perspective Plan (NPP) formulated in 1980, the National Water Development Agency (NWDA) has identified 30 interlinking of rivers (ILR) projects—16 under the Peninsular Component and 14 under the Himalayan Component. These projects aim to transfer water from surplus basins to water-deficit regions to address the challenges of floods and droughts. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) have been completed for 11 links, and Feasibility Reports (FRs) for 24 links. Notably, the Ken-Betwa Link Project, the first ILR project under the NPP, has commenced implementation, aiming to provide irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower benefits to the drought-prone Bundelkhand region.

Other Key Initiatives

• Highway Expansion: Proposed converting 30,000 km of two-lane highways into four-lane roads with an investment of ₹10 lakh crore.
• Ring Road Projects: Announced a ₹15,000 crore ring road project connecting Maharashtra and Karnataka to decongest Goa’s traffic.
• Automated Toll Systems: Initiated tendering for automated toll collection on four highways to eliminate queues.

Conclusion

Nitin Gadkari’s visionary leadership has significantly advanced India’s infrastructure landscape. His initiatives have not only enhanced connectivity but also contributed to economic growth, environmental sustainability, and road safety. As India progresses towards becoming a developed nation, Gadkari’s contributions will remain instrumental in shaping its future.

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has played a pivotal role in redefining India’s infrastructure landscape. His visionary leadership and decisive actions have significantly strengthened the nation’s highway network, facilitating economic growth, employment generation, and environmental improvements.

Under his tenure, the pace of road construction has seen a remarkable increase, with the daily construction rate accelerating from 3 km/day in 2014 to 30 km/day in 2024. Gadkari has also been instrumental in promoting electric vehicles, alternative fuels, and enhancing road safety measures. His initiatives, such as the implementation of FASTag for electronic toll collection and the introduction of BS6 emission standards, have modernized India’s transportation system.

Gadkari’s contributions have not only improved connectivity but have also laid the foundation for India’s journey towards becoming a developed nation. His continued efforts are expected to play a significant role in the country’s future development.