February 22 2016, 17.06 PM IST || Pocket News Alert
New Delhi: Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari while speaking at “Budget Aaj Tak” conclave on Monday said his ministry was building a record 18 km of roads everyday while the target of constructing 30 km per day is still not met and will be achieved in next financial year.
He said the plan to convert 111 rivers into waterways was going on. “The project has got approval of Lok Sabha and we are now awaiting clearance from the Rajya Sabha. We will create over 2000 ports in these rivers that will generate a lot of employment. The first such waterway is coming up between Varanasi to Haldia,” he added. The recently started ‘river traffic control system’ will provide employment to at least 15 lakh people, he added.
Responding to allegations leveled by senior Congress leader Digvijay Singh about corruption in tendering processes in major development projects, Mr. Gadkari said all e-tendering process have been carried out in a very transparent manner where project worth over Rs.1.5-lakh crore have been approved. “If anyone has any proof of corruption, he can lodge corruption case against me,” he added.
On forthcoming Budget, Mr. Gadkari said it would be for the betterment of farmers and general public. He said the government has taken various measures like giving loans and crop insurance scheme to ensure that rate of suicide comes down.
