Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the National Capital is seeing road projects worth over Rs 70,000 crore underway, along with some of its nearby areas. The projects include construction of roads, highways and expressways.
Addressing an event, the Minister of Road Transport and Highways emphasised that hydrogen-powered vehicles represent the future and will significantly mitigate the pollution problems caused by fossil fuels. He noted the rapid pace of technological advancement and highlighted the importance of knowledge as a powerful tool.
The minister also mentioned that his ministry is utilising landfill waste from Delhi for road construction.
Highway construction target down 15%
The government has set a provisional target of constructing 10,421 km of national highways for this financial year, which is 15% lower than last year’s achievement due to delays in various clearances caused by the election process in the states, Gadkari said on Thursday.
During April to June of this financial year, the ministry has constructed 1,934 km of highways, compared to 2,250 km during the same period last year.
In a reply in Lok Sabha, he said, “The preoccupation of district authorities in all states with the general election 2024 has impacted to some extent the resolution of hindrances and affected the pace of construction. However, the Ministry is making all efforts to maximise the pace of construction.”
(With PTI inputs)