At a conference that could have easily doubled as a national roadmap to happiness (and smooth suspension travel), Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, declared that the future of India’s infrastructure will rest on three strong pillars — People, Prosperity, and Planning. Speaking at the CII National Conference on “Future of Smart Roads – Safety, Sustainability and Resilience,” he reminded the audience that roads are not just for cars — they are for people, prosperity, and the occasional roadside samosa.
With 670 roadside amenities already developed across the country, Gadkari said India is not just connecting cities — it’s connecting chai points, restrooms, and charging stations. “Infrastructure must be people-centric,” he said, “because comfort and convenience are just as important as connectivity.” Somewhere, every long-distance driver nodded in silent approval.
The Minister also shared some thrilling fiscal milestones — the Ministry’s annual revenue, currently at ₹55,000 crore, is projected to hit ₹1.4 lakh crore in just two years. “We’re literally paving the way to prosperity,” he quipped, underscoring how every rupee spent on infrastructure yields three in economic growth — a return better than most mutual funds.
Work is already in progress to upgrade 25,000 kilometres of two-lane highways into four-lane expressways, while a ₹2 lakh crore port connectivity program is busy linking major ports to national highways — making it easier for everything from coconuts to containers to move across India with fewer bumps.
Highlighting India’s greener ambitions, Gadkari noted that 8,500 trees have been transplanted along the Dwarka Expressway. “We don’t just build roads; we give trees a new address,” he smiled. Mandatory use of precast technology is also ensuring that projects finish on time — a rarity once thought as mythical as a road without a speed breaker.
He reminded the industry that 80% of India’s goods travel by road, 18% by other means, and just 1% by air — proving once again that it’s roads, not runways, that keep the nation moving. With improved connectivity, he predicted that logistics and fuel costs will soon slip into the coveted single-digit territory — a figure that would make both transporters and taxpayers cheer.
Closing his address, Gadkari envisioned a future where India’s roads are not only smart but soulful — blending technology with human needs. The “Smart Roads” of tomorrow, he said, will come equipped with EV charging stations, parking facilities, pedestrian-friendly zones, and comfort stops that make every journey feel like a mini vacation.
