PIB | 30 Apr, 2023
Union
Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari,on Saturday said that a strong, stable, decisive and transparent government is the key to achieve dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of making India a 5 trillion-dollar economy by 2025.
He said this delivering a
speech at a session on PM Gati Shakti during 'India Calling Conference
2023' organized by the Indian Merchants Chamber in Mumbai. Gadkari
congratulated IMC for organizing ‘India Calling Conference’ every year
with an objective to promote ‘Brand-India’.
Speaking
about the PM Gati Shakti Project Minister Gadkari said, “PM Gati Shakti
National Master Plan (NMP) is a very big initiative and it will help us
reduce logistics costs. Logistics cost in India is higher at 13% to 14%
of GDP compared to 8% to 9% of GDP in other developed economies such as
the USA. Higher logistics cost reduces the competitiveness of ‘Made in
India’ products in global markets. Reducing logistics costs to 9% of GDP
is at the top of Government’s agenda."
About
plans to improve highway network, Minister said that NHAI is
developing world class ‘Wayside Amenities (WSA)’ at more than 600
locations along the National Highways. Apart from basic facilities like
good toilets, parking and restaurants; these Way Side Amenities will
also have Dormitories for Truck Drivers, EV Charging facilities,
Convention centers, Trauma centers and Retail shops for promoting
handicrafts and locally manufactured products.
Some WSAs will also have
Helipads and Drone Landing Facilities to deal with medical emergency
situations like road accidents and organ transplantation.
Delivering
his address, Union Minister of Ports, Shipping &Waterways and AYUSH
Sarbananda Sonowal said that India is forging ahead with a speed never
seen before. "It took Indian economy 60 years to reach US $ 1 Trillion
mark and now, in just 9 years from 2014, India is almost a three and a
half Trillion Dollar economy", said the Union Minister.
Sonowal added that Under PM Gati Shakti NMP, Ministry of Ports,
Shipping, and Waterways has identified 101 projects worth Rs. 62,227
Crores for implementation by 2025. Out of these 101 projects, 26
projects worth Rs. 8897 Crore have been completed, 42 projects amounting
15,343 Crore are under development and 33 projects worth Rs36638 Crore
are under implementation. Out of the projects under implementation, 14
projects worth Rs 20,537 Crore are expected to be completed by Dec 2023.
The
Minister added that of 101 Gati Shakti projects, 12 projects amounting
9867 Crores are being executed in the State of Maharashtra, out of which
3 Projects amounting to Rs. 3,165 crores have been completed. 2
projects amounting to Rs. 675 crores are under development while rest 7
projects amounting to Rs. 6,027 Crores are under implementation and
expected to be completed till 2025.
Explaining
the progress made under Sagarmala Project Shri Sonowal said that
currently, there are 802 projects worth investment of Rs. 5.4 lakh Cr.
for implementation under the Sagarmala Programme by 2035.
228 projects
worth Rs. 1,21,545 Cr. have been completed and 260 projects worth Rs.
2.36 lakh Cr. are under implementation. Further, 314 projects worth Rs.
2.11 Lakh Cr. are under various stages of development. In the state of
Maharashtra, there are 126 projects worth Rs. 1,13,285 Cr under
Sagarmala Programme. Out of 126 projects, 39 projects worth Rs 16,393 Cr
have been completed. 42 projects worth Rs 18,146 Cr are under
implementation. 45 projects worth Rs 78,746 Cr are under development
stage.
Speaking
about green initiatives, he added that as per the National Hydrogen
Mission of the country, Green Hydrogen / Ammonia bunkers and refuelling
facilities are to be established in all Major Ports by 2035. Deendayal,
Paradip & V.O. Chidambaranar Ports are developing infrastructure for
establishment of hydrogen bunkering.