Nitin Gadkari announces big-ticket plans in report card

Giving boost to the NDA's grand infrastructure plan, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari announced to build 30 kms of roads a day and speedily clear projects worth rupees 1.5 lakh crore to push the development of road transport and infrastructure on Monday.

Proper water supply and sanitation, development of waterways as transportation system and a scheme to convert water bodies into water ports were some of the focus areas, he said, while presenting his ministry's 100-day report card.

Gadkari said the delay in the construction of the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway was an embarrassment and all efforts are being made to complete the project by 2015. "The Delhi-Jaipur Expressway is a black spot for us. I visited the site and can say there are so many problems and hurdles and our mission is to complete it despite all these problems," he said.

A final notification will be issued after 10 days to allow the plying of e-rickshaws, which have been banned from the roads of the national capital by the Delhi High Court because of safety issues. "In the next 10 days, we will solve the problem and issue a (final) notification for the plying of e-rickshaws," he said.

Gadkari indicated the government may restrict the MNREGA rural job scheme to tribal and backward districts. Gadkari, who also holds the Rural Development portfolio, said the MNREGA, guaranteeing up to 100 days of unskilled work in a year to every rural household, is not required in areas with higher growth.