The Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said the government has set a target of increasing road-building capacity to 30 km a day from a dismal three km a day at present.
Addressing the India Economic Summit organised by WEF and CIIE here, he emphasised the need to have an integrated approach for the country’s transport system, he said the government was working on a uniform multi-modal transport policy that would cover road and sea ways among others.
On the woes faced by the country’s infrastructure sector, Mr. Gadkari said efforts are being made to convert problems into opportunities. He admitted that land acquisition and environmental and forest clearances remained big hurdles and criticised the courts for passing “impracticable” rulings and the media for hyping up minor opposition to infrastructure projects, and asserted that India needs to create jobs and spur economic growth as much as it needs to preserve the environment.
Certain directives of the courts are difficult to execute, he said. “I am telling you the truth. Suppose, someone wants to run a government, the process is simple. You have to fight elections ... but a media house or judiciary cannot take charge of administration. I am sorry to say in many cases, the way in which decisions are given by the courts, it is difficult to execute,” he said.
“I have respect for the judiciary, I have respect for judges but at the same time this poor country needs development.”
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