News Analysis India

Tag: Nitin Gadkari

  • Maharashtra: Gadkari launches AI-powered road safety initiative in Nagpur

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday launched ‘iRASTE’, an Artificial Intelligence-powered project, on a pilot basis in Nagpur in Maharashtra with the aim of reducing accidents by 50 per cent in Vidarbha’s biggest city.

    A collaborative effort between the government, Intel, INAI, IIIT-Hyderabad, CSIR-CRRI (Central Road Research Institute), Mahindra & Mahindra and Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), the project will focus on vehicle safety, mobility analysis and road infrastructure safety to move towards a ‘Vision Zero’ accident scenario, a release said.

    Vehicles belonging to NMC will be equipped with collision avoidance technology that can reduce accidents and near misses by up to 60 percent, while sensors will help map the dynamic risk of the entire road network, which can be used by agencies to prevent and rectify accident-prone zones, also called black spots, the release added.

    Gadkari said 1,500 accidents, which cause 250 deaths, take place in Nagpur every year and the use of AI to map accident spots, which will be repaired by his ministry, will also help collect data on road surface condition, signage, marking, signal details, type of vehicles, models in use and utility assets.

    “The crash severity index (which is found by calculating fatalities and serious injuries in an accident) in Nagpur was 21.22 in 2018, 24.83 in 2019, and 70.17 in 2020, this increase coming during the COVID-19 pandemic (when most areas were under lockdown), which is not a good thing at all,” he said.

    Nagpur was witnessing an average of eight road accident deaths for every one lakh people in the last three years, which was four times that of a much bigger city like Mumbai, and this situation needed to be addressed quickly, Gadkari added.

    Intel India Country Head Nivruti Rai and IITH Director Professor PJ Narayan, who spoke on the occasion, said the ‘iRASTE’ project would go a long way in creating a blueprint for the country in order to bring accidents to zero.

  • Day after boat tragedy, CM Himanta says work for Jorhat-Majuli bridge to begin in November

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: Five years after Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways Nitin Gadkari had laid the foundation, the Assam government will begin constructing a bridge over the Brahmaputra in November to connect Majuli island with Jorhat.

    Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Thursday made the announcement while visiting Neamatighat in Jorhat where a collision between two ferries or mechanised boats on Wednesday had left a 28-year-old woman dead. She was serving as a college lecturer in Majuli.

    One of the boats that capsized and sank had 90 passengers. Eighty-seven of them managed to swim ashore or were rescued by the locals and two others are missing, Assam State Disaster Management Authority said.

    Sarma said it would take four years to build the bridge. He said a Group of Ministers would be formed to review the progress of construction. Gadkari had laid the foundation ahead of the 2016 Assam elections.

    The CM, who monitored the search operation for about 45 minutes from a machine boat, said a criminal case would be registered in connection with the incident.

    He said three officials of the Inland Water Transport (IWT) Department were placed under suspension and the government would institute a high-level inquiry into the accident.

    He announced that the plying of all private ferries would be stopped forthwith as they were not equipped with a marine engine.

    “If the owners wish to convert the single-engine to marine engine, the state government would provide a grant of Rs 10 lakh with 75% subsidy,” Sarma said.

    He said while four IWT ferries would provide service between Kamalabari in Majuli and Neamatighat, two more would be sent to Majuli. Two Ro-Pax ferries would also be operationalised, he said.

    Sarma also visited Majuli and assured the leaders of various organisations that all necessary steps would be taken to ensure passenger safety. He said the government would fix the number of passengers per boat and ensure strict vigilance.

    The Congress slammed the government over the incident stating that no provisions of safety kits like life jackets, swimming tubes were seen. The presence of rescuers was also not visible, the party said.

    “Does the IWT Department have properly marked navigation routes or not? Do they have licensed boat/ferry drivers? Who is monitoring the load of ferries?” the Congress asked.

  • IAF plane with Rajnath, Gadkari to conduct mock emergency landing on highway in Rajasthan’s Barmer

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: A plane of the Indian Air Force (IAF), carrying Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, will conduct a mock emergency landing on a national highway in Rajasthan’s Barmer this week, sources said on Monday.

    The two ministers will be inaugurating the 3.5 km-long strip on the national highway in Barmer this week as it is ready to handle emergency landings of the IAF’s fighter jets and other aircraft, sources mentioned.

    It is India’s first national highway to be used for emergency landing of IAF aircraft, they added.

    In October 2017, fighter jets and transport planes of the IAF had conducted mock landings on the Lucknow-Agra Expressway to show that such highways can be used by the IAF planes for landing in case of an emergency.

    The Lucknow-Agra Expressway comes under the Uttar Pradesh government.

    According to the sources, officials of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) worked in coordination with IAF officials to develop the airstrip on the national highway in Barmer.

    They said at least 12 national highways across the country — apart from the aforementioned one in Barmer — are being readied so that they can be used as airstrips by the IAF planes in an emergency situation.

    The parts of the 12 national highways that will be used as airstrips are being identified and prepared, sources added.

  • Chambal Expressway included in Bharatmala Pariyojana phase-1: Nitin Gadkari 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The 404-km Chambal Expressway, passing through far-flung areas of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, has been included in phase-1 of Bharatmala Pariyojana, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Thursday.

    Last year, Gadkari had said the Rs 8,250-crore Chambal Expressway project could be a game-changer for the poor and tribals living in far-flung regions of Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

    He had also urged these states to expedite land acquisition, environment clearances and tax relief for the project.

    “Following projects have been included in Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-1: Chambal Expressway (404 Km), Greenfield connectivity of NH-26 and NH-75 outside Jhansi (16.8 Km) and Dwarka Circle to Nashik Road section of NH-60 (5.9 Km),” he tweeted.

    The Chambal Expressway project will also provide cross-connectivity with the Golden Quadrilateral’s Delhi-Kolkata corridor, North-South corridor, East-West corridor and Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.

    Bharatmala Pariyojana is an umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimising efficiency of freight and passenger movement through interventions like development of economic corridors, coastal and port connectivity roads and greenfield expressways.

  • Shiv Sena leaders obstructing highway projects in Maharashtra, Nitin Gadkari alleges in letter to CM Uddhav Thackeray

    By PTI

    NAGPUR: Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has written a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray claiming that local leaders of the ruling Shiv Sena were creating obstructions for several road projects undertaken by his ministry in the state.

    It the ‘harassment’ of contractors and officials by local leaders continued, the Union ministry will have to consider if these projects should continue, he warned in the missive, dated July 25.

    The letter went viral on social media on Saturday.

    A source close to the Union minister confirmed its authenticity.

    Incidentally, Gadkari was PWD minister in the Shiv Sena-BJP government in Maharashtra in the 1990s.

    Several projects of four-laning of national highways and bridges are underway in Akola, Nanded, Washim and Osmanabad districts, but public representatives from Thackeray-led Shiv Sena were obstructing these works, the senior BJP leader said.

    Contractors and officials are being harassed with “illegal demands” and in some cases work has been stopped by local leaders, he alleged.

    The four-laning of the 202-km National Highway between Akola and Nanded including the construction of a 12-km bypass from Gedshi to Washim has been stopped by local Shiv Sena leaders, Gadkari claimed.

    Work of Malegaon to Risod National Highway has been completed except for a bridge over the Painganga river as local leaders threatened the contractor and stopped the work, he said.

    The Pulgaon-Karanja-Malegaon-Mehkar-Sindkhedraja National Highway is in a very bad condition and his ministry had started repair work at the cost of Rs 135 crore, Gadkari said.

    “This work is almost complete. I was informed that the Shiv Sainiks had stopped the work in Washim district, particularly that of the road through Seloo Bazar village. When the contractor resumed work as per people’s demand as the road was in dangerous condition, Shiv Sena workers set machinery on fire and terrorized officers, employees and workers. As a result, the work has stopped again,” the letter alleged.

    “Therefore, should the National Highway work in Washim district continue? We are seriously considering this…If this continues, our ministry will have to think about sanctioning of works of National Highways in Maharashtra. This will harm Maharashtra and its people,” Gadkari said.

    Thackeray should intervene and find a solution, he said.

  • West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee calls on Nitin Gadkari, discusses projects in state

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met Union Minister of Transport Nitin Gadkari here on Thursday and discussed several infrastructure projects in the state with him in a bid to invite global investors.

    Banerjee, who is in Delhi to initiate talks with opposition parties to stitch together a united front against the ruling BJP, brought up pending road and transport projects, including the deep-sea port at Tajpur, in her discussions with Gadkari, sources said.

    The sea port, located nearly 200 km from Kolkata, is expected to draw an investment of Rs 15,000 crore and generate 25,000 jobs in West Bengal. The sources said Banerjee will also meet ministers of key departments such as petroleum, aviation, railways and commerce soon to discuss various development projects in the state.

    Chief Minister of West Bengal Sushri @MamataOfficial called on Union Minister Shri @nitin_gadkari Ji today. In the presence of officials they reviewed various road projects being undertaken in the state. pic.twitter.com/ueDD4jTys0
    — Office Of Nitin Gadkari (@OfficeOfNG) July 29, 2021

    “Chief Minister of West Bengal Sushri @MamataOfficial called on Union Minister Shri @nitin_gadkari Ji today. In the presence of officials they reviewed various road projects being undertaken in the state,” Gadkari’s office said in a tweet.

    The sources said the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo also presented a report to the Union minister on the construction of rural roads in West Bengal under the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).

  • India witnessed 4.49 lakh road accidents, 1.51 lakh deaths in 2019

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: A total of 4,49,002 road accidents occurred in India in 2019, causing 1,51,113 deaths, despite the number of such road mishaps coming down during the year when compared with 2018, Parliament was informed on Monday.

    In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that road accidents are occurring due to multiple causes such as over speeding, drunken driving, consumption of alcohol, driving on wrong side/lane, indiscipline, fault of the driver of motor vehicle, use of mobile phones during driving etc.

    The number of road accidents in 2018 was 4,67,044 and deaths were recorded at 1,51,417.

    Gadkari said his ministry has implemented a scheme for undertaking publicity measures and awareness campaigns on road safety to create awareness among road users through the electronic media, print media, NGOs etc.

    He added that high priority has been taken to identify and rectify black spots (accident prone spots) on national highways.

    Gadkari noted that safety standards for automobiles have been improved and the ministry has notified fitment of speed limiting devices on all transport vehicles.

    Replying to a separate question, he said the government does not collect data on removal of liquor shops situated along the national highways as this is a state subject.

    The Supreme Court of India has issued directions regarding stopping the grant of licences for sale of liquor along national and state highways and over a distance of 500 metres from the outer edge of the national or state highways or of a service lane along the highway.

    “As per the orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court, the ministry has requested all the state governments and UTs, from time to time, to take necessary action for implementation of the order(s) of Hon’ble Supreme Court.

    “Further, Section 185 of Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 provides for punishment of imprisonment or fine or both for the offence of drunken driving cases,” he said.

    Stating that the ministry deals with the matters related to development of national highways and providing access to properties situated along the national highways, he said the ministry has no control on the usage of and business run in these properties located beyond the Right of Way (ROW) of national highways.

    Replying to another question, Gadkari said 536 persons killed and 1,655 persons injured under category of ‘hit and run’ in Delhi in 2019

  • Gadkari must increase volume of his microphone: Chidambaram’s dig at Union Minister

    He alleged that all decisions in the government are taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and it did not matter who the union minister was.

  • Nitin Gadkari is right man in wrong party: Maharashtra minister Ashok Chavan

    By ANI
    MUMBAI: Maharashtra Minister and senior Congress leader Ashok Chavan on Sunday praised Union Minister Nitin Gadkari saying that he is the right man in the wrong party.

    Addressing mediapersons via video conferencing, Chavan said, “I often talk about Nitin Gadkari. I had praised him the day before yesterday. He is an efficient minister. There are many issues which are related to basic amenities and infrastructure of Maharashtra. Gadkari takes those subjects seriously. I publicly praise his way of working either by writing articles or via tweets. But praising him does not mean that I support him politically. After all, he is a minister in the NDA government. So all I will say is that he is the right man but in the wrong party.”

    On Sunday when the NDA government at the centre was celebrating the completion of seven years in office, Congress leader Ashok Chavan accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government of failing to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic. He alleged that the Centre has taken all decision-making powers into its hands, but now after the outbreak of COVID, it is blaming the state governments.

    Asked if he had a favourite minister in the NDA government, Chavan replied that “good words” could only be spoken about Union minister Nitin Gadkari who is also the MP from Nagpur. Chavan said Gadkari maintains a “dialogue with other parties despite ideological differences”. (ANI)

  • More pharma companies should be allowed to produce COVID-19 vaccines: Nitin Gadkari

    By ANI
    NEW DELHI: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that more pharma companies should be allowed to manufacture the COVID-19 vaccine in the country during the pandemic to scale up production.

    While addressing a meeting via video conferencing Gadkari said, “If the demand of vaccine is more than the supply, it creates the problem. So, instead of one company, let 10 more companies be given the license to manufacture the vaccine.”

    “There are 2-3 laboratories in every state. They should be given the formula to produce the COVID-19 vaccines. They can give royalty,” Gadkari said.

    “Let them supply in the country and later if there is surplus, they may export. It can be done in 15-20 days,” he added.

    Currently, only two firms – Bharat Biotech and Serum Institute of India – are manufacturing COVID vaccines in the country and only three vaccines have so far been approved to be sold in India — COVAXIN, COVESHIELD and Sputnik V.

    Many states have complained about the shortage of COVID-19 vaccines.

    Reacting to Gadkari’s comment on the shortage of the COVID-19 vaccines, national spokesperson of Congress Jaiveer Shergill said that the whole nation is demanding vaccines, BJP is supplying fake tool kits.

    “Mr Gadkari says to solve Vaccine demand-supply issue more manufacturing licenses should be given. The problem is-Nation is demanding vaccines, BJP is supplying fake tool kits. Good to know at least one BJP minister is waking up to reality – how many more have to die to wake up the system,” Shergill tweeted.

    A total of 18,58,09,302 doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered across the country since the vaccination drive began on January 16.

    According to official data, 2,67,334 fresh COVID-19 cases were recorded during a 24-hour period.

    “The cumulative caseload stands at 2,54,96,330, including 32,26,719 active cases, 2,19,86,363 recoveries and 2,83,248 deaths,” the Union Health Ministry said.