Gadkari plans to plant 125 crore trees along highways

Nagpur: Union transport minister Nitin Gadkari has decided to go green in his second term and plans to plant 125 crore trees, equal to the population of India, along national highways. This will greatly benefit the environment, he said while interacting with media at his residence on his return to the city after taking charge.
Gadkari said he would complete all the ongoing highway projects by 2022. “Work on some have already started, while it will start soon on others. All of them will be completed within three years. I was able to increase the rate of highway construction to 32km per day. Now, I will increase it to 40km. About 2,000 roadside plazas with amenities will be start along national highways,” he said.
One of his top priorities is the early completion of Delhi-Mumbai expressway. “Around 60% of the contracts have been awarded, while the rest will be done within a month. Then, work will start in full swing,” he said.
On micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME), he said the industrial growth of the country was not satisfactory and he would try to increase it through his ministry. “I have several innovative ideas in my mind. Khadi cloth can be used for ethnic wear and also exported. Bamboo can be used for textiles and biodiesel. Drumstick powder can be exported. There are lot many more things,” the minister said.
Gadkari was the water resources minister in the last regime. There are fears that irrigation projects of the state getting central assistance may suffer as the portfolio has been given to another person. The city MP said the new minister was his friend and funds would not be a problem.
Earlier, Gadkari was given a rousing welcome by BJP leaders and workers at the airport in the morning on his return to the city. A public programme was held at Reshimbagh ground in the evening in which many citizens felicitated him.
Guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule had asked all the BJP MLAs and MLCs of the district to be present at the airport along with their supporters. Along with him, MLAs Sudhakar Kohale, Sudhakar Deshmukh, Krishna Khopade, Milind Mane, DM Reddy, MLC Anil Sole, mayor Nanda Jichkar and others welcomed Gadkari.
The party workers raised slogans hailing BJP’s victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Gadkari. ‘Nitin Gadkari aage badho hum tumhare saath hai’, ‘Jab tak suraj chaand rahega Gadkari tera naam rahega,’ and other slogans filled the air. Bawankule had hired a band, which played patriotic songs while party workers waived BJP flags.
Many people came to congratulate Gadkari at his Ravi Nagar residence but the tired minister went to take rest soon. In the evening, a musical programme by singer Nitin Mukesh was held at Suresh Bhat auditorium as part of the celebrations. After 7pm, office-bearers of city and district BJP felicitated the minister along with representatives of several social, business and cultural organizations at Reshimbagh ground.