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Shri Nitin Gadkari calls for investors from the US to come forward and invest in roads and highways projects in India
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari has called for investors from the US to come forward and invest in roads and highways projects in India which is a gold-mine for investors. Inaugurating virtually the 19th Indo-US Economic Summit of The Indo-American Chamber of Commerce he said The United States of America and India are prominent democracies of the World with strong bilateral relations. He said we are natural partners and have lot to contribute for mutual growth. Both the countries have always shown mutual trust, respect and co-operation on the social, economic and strategic front. The theme chosen this year- “The New Agenda for next 25 years”, will set the roadmap for strengthening our relationship, he added.
Shri Gadkari said our emphasis has been on creating a sustainable business ecosystem with an inclusive growth model. He said we need to encourage out-of-the-box thought process and promote creative agenda to weave new pathways. He said Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has set a vision for India to become a 5 trillion dollar economy by 2025. The Minister emphasized that today, India is one of the fastest growing economies and stands at fifth position in the World. A well-developed infrastructure enhances economic activity, creates new businesses and promotes job creation. He said our Government is investing 1.4 trillion dollars in infrastructure development through National Infrastructure Pipeline. The Road sector will account for 19% of this capital expenditure over period of 2019 to 2025. He said the Government has launched the Prime Minister National Gati Shakti Master Plan for holistic and integrated infrastructure development in the country. With Gati-Shakti all stakeholders will follow the rule of 3 C’s: Co-operation, Coordination & Communication.
Shri Gadkari said Road infrastructure plays a critical role in the growth of the Indian economy as 70% of goods and nearly 90% of passenger traffic uses the road network to commute. In 2014, we had around 91,000 Kms of National Highway network. At present, this Network has reached around 1.47 Lakh Kms. The Government is dedicatedly working towards expanding National Highway network to 2 lakh kilometers by 2025, he added.
The Minister said we are constructing 27 Greenfield Expressways of 10,000 Kms across the country with an investment of Rs. 5 lakh Crores that is about 60 billion dollars. He said these corridors result in 14% reduction in travel distance between the key economic centers and this would further ensure reduction in Transportation cost by 2.5%. In addition, there would be saving of around 110 crore liters of fuel and reduction of carbon dioxide emission by 250 crore kg every year, he said.
Shri Gadkari said Government is formulating a new policy called ‘Tree Bank’ for Tree Cutting & Tree Transplantation. As per policy, Authorities such as NHAI, NHIDCL, Airport and Port Authority have to maintain a Tree Bank account having record of planting and felling of trees during project development.
The Minister said we are bringing innovative and investor friendly products like InvIT to allow retail investors participate in the funding drive. We are designing the products so that retail investors can get good Annual Returns which are more than the Fixed Deposit rates. He said the chamber should take a lead and identify areas where our talented human resources can contribute to design best Financial Instruments to enable investments in Indian Infra Space. We have well-developed framework for Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP) in the highway sector. Asian Development Bank has ranked India at the first spot in PPP operational maturity and also designated India as a developed market for PPPs. All project documentation, contractual decisions and approvals are now being done through the digital portal, he added.
Shri Gadkari said today, India is becoming the largest EV market for electric two wheelers, three- wheelers and cars. He said Government is strongly encouraging solar and wind energy based charging mechanism for electric mobility. He said we are also working on development of Electric Highway which will be powered by solar, This will facilitate charging of heavy duty trucks and buses while running. He said US-based companies can collaborate with our research and development efforts towards EV battery technologies and retrofitting industry. The Minister said our National Hydrogen Mission offers incentives for production & transportation of Green Hydrogen. Shri Gadkari called upon the chamber to contribute in the development of low-cost and reliable Electrolysers and Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology.
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MJPS
अमेरिकेतील गुंतवणूकदारांनी भारतात रस्ते आणि महामार्ग प्रकल्पात गुंतवणूक करावी - केंद्रीय मंत्री नितीन गडकरी यांचे आवाहन
भारतातील रस्ते आणि महामार्ग प्रकल्प, गुंतवणूकदारांसाठी सोन्याच्या खाणीसारखे आहेत, असं सांगत अधिकाधिक उद्योजकांनी त्यात गुंतवणूक करावी, असे आवाहन, केंद्रीय रस्ते आणि महामार्ग मंत्री नितीन गडकरी यांनी अमेरिकेतील गुंतवणूकदारांना केले आहे. 19 व्या भारत- अमेरिका आर्थिक परिषदेचे ऑनलाईन उद्घाटन त्यांच्या हस्ते झाले, त्यावेळी ते बोलत होते. भारत-अमेरिका चेंबर ऑफ कॉमर्सने ही परिषद आयोजित केली आहे. भारत आणि अमेरिका ही जगातील दोन मोठी लोकशाही राष्ट्रे असून दोघांमधील द्वीपक्षीय संबंध अतिशय मजबूत आहेत. दोन्ही देश एकमेकांचे नैसर्गिक मित्र असून, आपण परस्परांच्या विकासासाठी बरेच योगदान देऊ शकतो. दोन्ही देशांनी वेळोवेळी अनेक सामाजिक, आर्थिक आणि राजनैतिक आघाडीवर, परस्पर विश्वास, आदर आणि सहकार्याचे प्रदर्शन केले आहे. यंदा ह्या परिषदेची संकल्पना, -“पुढच्या 25 वर्षांसाठीचा नवा अजेंडा” अशी असून, त्यातून, आपले संबंध अधिक दृढ करण्यासाठीचा एक आराखडा तयार केला जाणार आहे, असे त्यांनी पुढे सांगितले.
आपल्याला नव्या मार्गांची आखणी करतांना, काही चौकटी बाहेरचा विचार आणि नव्या सृजनशील उपायांचा अवलंब करण्यास प्रोत्साहन द्यायला हवे,असे ते म्हणाले. केंद्र सरकार राष्ट्रीय पायाभूत सुविधा पाईपलाईन प्रकल्पाच्या माध्यमातून पायाभूत विकासात, 1.4 ट्रिलियन गुंतवणूक करणार आहे, अशी माहिती त्यांनी दिली.
आम्ही देशभरात, 10,000 किमीचे 27 ग्रीनफील्ड द्रुतगती मार्ग विकसित करणार आहोत, आणि त्यासाठी 5 लाख कोटी म्हणजे 60 अब्ज डॉलर्सची गुंतवणूक केली जाणार आहे, असेही त्यांनी सांगितले.
ह्या प्रकल्प गुंतवणुकीत, किरकोळ गुंतवणूकदारांनाही सहभागी होता यावं यासाठी आम्ही, इन्व्ही आयटी (InvIT) सारखे काही गुंतवणूक स्नेही, अभिनव उपक्रम देखील राबवत आहोत. आम्ही आमच्या उत्पादनांची संरचना अशाप्रकारे करतो आहोत, जेणेकरुन, किरकोळ गुंतवणूकदारांना त्यातून चांगले परतावे मिळू शकतील, जे मुदतठेवीवरील व्याजदरांपेक्षा अधिक असतील, असेही गडकरी म्हणाले.
आज भारत, इलेक्ट्रिक वाहने, मग, त्या दुचाकी असोत, तीचाकी अथवा चारचाकी वाहनांची सर्वात मोठी बाजारपेठ ठरला आहे. इलेक्ट्रिक वाहनांसाठी, सौर आणि पवन उर्जेवर आधारित चार्जिंग यंत्रणा उभरण्यास सरकार प्रोत्साहन देत आहे. इलेक्ट्रिक हायवे विकसित करण्याच्या संकल्पनेवर देखील आम्ही काम करत असून सौर ऊर्जेतून मिळणाऱ्या वीजेवर आधारित या महामार्गांवर ट्रक आणि बसेस सारख्या मोठ्या वाहनांचे बॅटरी चार्जिंग देखील शक्य होईल, अशी आशा गडकरी यांनी व्यक्त केली.
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