Nitin Gadkari Impresses US Investors To Invest In India

Asserting that there is a huge opportunity of a stake in the port zone in India, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways and shipping on Tuesday said lenders are impressed with the India’s program and are willing to tack the opportunity.

We are planning to start three new ports in India-Colachel port (Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu), Sagar Port (West Bengal) and Wadhawan Port (Mumbai). So, there is also vast opportunity for investments in our port division. We have discussed all these with the Indo-American Chambers of Commerce. They are very much impressed by the presentation and are willing to invest in India. Gadkari told ANI

Taking about gratification of doing business in India, the minister said, At present, there are no road blocks – no land attainment or forecast clearance problems. When I took over as minister, 403 projects were there with the state governments, with our divisions and National Highway Authority of India (NHI), of which 90% have been cleared.

Our Cabinet has approved 21 decisions from our division and today, frankly speaking, there is a no problem.

Talking about clearances to various projects, he said, now we are not giving appointment aid without 80% land accusations. And first, we issues forest and environment clearances, railways clearance, utility shifting and 80% property acquisition and then we are giving them appointment aid.

Speaking about speedy road construction, the minister said, today, the road division is moving fast and that is the reason the speed of road construction has increased. I just want to give one example that Axis control express highway that is ring road of Delhi, easterly bypass and westerly bypass. Actually, there was a big property acquisition problem in Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi particularly in U.P. But with our new Land Acquisition Act in place, we don’t have any problem.

The Prime Minister has given us a task to complete highway, road construction within 400 days. And we are confident that we will be able to complete this project within 400 days. So, its work and culture is changed and decision making process is fast with full clarity, so it’s easy very easy for the contractor and for the company to construct. There is a good positive environment for development, he added.

Presently, in the World Bank analyses, financial report the performance of India from the logistic point of view has increased. The way this government is working, the response is very good. Now the people are really interested to invest in India, he said.

Talking about people’s expectation, Gadkari said, People have more expectation from my government, especially in the road safety department. And even I am not satisfied with it. In the past two years, 2% per cent accidents have also increases in Himachal Pradesh. We have taken a lot of decision on this. We have made carriers; we need to improve he system and we have to use the newest technology. We have to make it axis control. Most important is as to how to save lives of the people.

Talking about setting up of 4,000 driving institutes across India, Gadkari said, in the whole world, it is easiest to get license in India, and India has maximum bogus licenses. Most of the license holders have never been to the office and that is why we are going to build four Thousand driving institutes, where computer will take the test and declare the result.

We are taking all the help from the transport ministry in London so now it will not be very easy for anyone to take a license. National registration of licence and registration everything will be available in the website he added.