Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari announced nine major infrastructure projects worth Rs 30,000 crore at the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024 in Jaipur on Tuesday (December 10).
Road infrastructure projects
Addressing a session on the second day of the Summit, Minister Gadkari urged Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to allocate 40 percent of the developed land adjacent to the proposed North Jaipur bypass to farmers, a move that would would significantly enhance them financially.
Gadkari emphasized on the role of robust road infrastructure in boosting Rajasthan’s tourism sector. Elaborating on the nine projects, the minister highlighted the approval of the 110-km-long Northern Jaipur Ring Road, which entails an investment of Rs 6,500 crore, alongside the Rs 6,800 crore Kotputli-Agra Greenfield Expressway, set for completion in September. Additionally, the Rs 12,000 crore Jaipur-Kishangarh-Jodhpur to Amritsar highway, along with six other initiatives, were also discussed.
The minister further noted that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Jaipur-Kishangarh-Jodhpur to Amritsar Greenfield highway would be finalized very soon.
“The land price increased five times after the construction of roads. I requested you (Rajasthan government) earlier. You make a new Jaipur with the Jaipur Development Authority there. There is another good scheme. Give 40 per cent of the developed land to farmers. They will also get a lot of money,” Gadkari said.
These infrastructure projects will collectively facilitate the development of an extensive 800-kilometer road network across the state.
Minister’s appeal to the state government
The Union Minster said that changes in the cost of road and fuel will bring India’s logistics rate to 9 per cent within the span of two years.
The government has completed construction of 8,500 kilometers of roads in Rajasthan, with a total outlay of Rs 67,000 crore, between 2014 and 2024.
Moreover, the government plans to construct an additional 2,020 kilometers of road in the state by 2025, with a projected investment of Rs 17,000 crore.
Nitin Gadkari urged the Rajasthan government for the adoption of green technologies.
He also suggested the production of sugarcane to generate ethanol, citing it as a boost to farmers’ incomes.
Further, Gadkari suggested the adoption of modern transport solutions such as seaplanes and electric buses, leveraging the state’s multiple lakes. He also noted the declining cost of lithium-ion batteries, which is expected to reduce the cost of electric vehicles, thereby accelerating their adoption.
“The next five years will see a transition where all buses in the state will be electric,” the minister said.
Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the ‘Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024‘ at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) on Monday (December 9).
The summit organized by the Government of Rajasthan hosted over 5,000 participants, including industry leaders, investors, and international dignitaries.
Speaking at the inaugural, the PM said, “Rajasthan is emerging as a prime destination for investment, driven by its skilled workforce and expanding market.”
The three-day investment summit will conclude on Wednesday (December 11).
