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NEWS













                    100 days of the government has been just the beginning…


                         ecently, while addressing a  expected that the government will
                         press conference in Mumbai on  extract methane and CO  from it,
                                                                         2
                    R100 days of the Government,  and mix it with vegetable, meat
                    Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for  waste and solid sludge and will
                    Road Transport and Highways  utilise for 400 buses, 150 cars and
                    said that, under the leadership of  100 trucks. The minister also claimed
                    Prime  Minister  Narendra  Modi,  the  that cities like Bhandara, Wardha,
                    Government has been working  Gondia, Chandrapur, Gadchiroli and
                    decisively and transparently, with the  Nagpur will be made diesel-free in
                    vision of development, making India  next five years.
                    a super-economy in the world.     During the conference, Gadkari
                      On road development, Gadkari   talked about Delhi-Mumbai highway
                    said, “Road transport projects worth   project, and how it will reduce the
                    Rs 60,000Cr are being executed,   time duration for the commuters to
                    and we are trying to build all-  12 hours. “Delhi-Mumbai highway
                    season roads.” He adds, “The    project will cost around Rs 1 lakh
                    fund availability is  not an  issue  for   Cr,  and we have already spent
                    starting new infrastructure projects.   Rs 50,000Cr to control pollution from
                    During the current financial year,   Delhi,” he stated.
                    new projects worth Rs five lakh Cr    Talking about road safety, Gadkari
                    will be awarded. Besides, Bharatmala  said, “Amendment of Motor Vehicle
                    will see an investment of Rs 34,000Cr.”  Act will improve road safety. Since
                      According to the minister, the old   two percent of the national GDP
                    BOT projects have started earning   is being wasted on accidents;
                    revenue for the government and soon   five lakh accidents that resulted
                    other projects will be monetised too.  in  1.5  lakh death every year  and
                                                    2.5 - 3 lakh become handicapped. The
                      According  to  Gadkari,  the   amendment will make sure curbing the
                    government is trying to promote   accidents on roads.” He also said that
                    e-vehicles. A step into this would be the   the government is considering linking
                    reduction of GST from 12 to 5%. That   insurance  premiums  and  driver’s
                    apart, the government is incentivising   accident record in the future.
                    ethanol making from sugar,      He spoke about projects worth
                    maze etc. because it is import-  Rs  14,000Cr  are  being under
                    substituting, cost-effective and  implementation that will remove
                    pollution-free. “We import Rs seven   black spots on roads.
                    lakh Cr worth of petroleum products   He also mentioned about
                    and using ethanol, the country will   implementation of licensing and
                    save  Rs  40,000Cr,”  he  mentioned.   road safety rules. “Earlier, 30% of
                    Gadkari announced that his ministry   licenses were bogus. Now, multiple
                    will soon try running autos and buses   licenses for one person is not possible
                    too on ethanol.                 due to  re-registration,”  he  said.
                      Citing an example, Gadkari  According to Gadkari, CCTV footages
                    mentions how Nagpur is selling  have ensured escape impossible for
                    wastewater  for  Rs  180Cr.  It  is  traffic offenders.







              www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com                                                        August-September ’19 / TrafficInfraTech  7
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