At a press conference in Nagpur, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that next month's 'Advantage Vidarbha' event will feature MoUs worth Rs 500 billion (bn). The event will include the establishment of a major automobile plant, steel units, and Dassault Reliance Aerospace's plan to assemble 26-27 Falcon jets within two years.

Speaking at an FRP Institute conference the minister proposed using fibre-reinforced plastics (FRP) for water taxis linking Mumbai to its suburbs and Navi Mumbai International Airport. At the conference, Gadkari highlighted that jetties near the airport, set to open in March 2025, are already in place. 

During his recent visit to Goa, Gadkari suggested constructing a parallel road to NH66 from Patradevi to Canacona. This proposal follows a state study predicting road expansion needs up to 2030, as congestion continues to affect many stretches due to increasing vehicle density.

During the month, he also announced that the Union Government is considering the introduction of monthly and yearly toll passes for private vehicles on National Highways. Currently, private vehicles contribute only 26 per cent of the total toll collections. He shared plans to set up toll collection booths outside villages to avoid disrupting local traffic. He noted that 74 per cent of toll revenue comes from commercial vehicles, and the government is considering introducing monthly or annual passes for private vehicles. Additionally, the Ministry plans to implement a barrier-less GNSS-based toll collection system on national highways, enhancing the current system alongside FASTag.

The minister has approved three major infrastructure projects worth Rs 33.304 bn to improve connectivity and ease traffic in Jharkhand and Bihar. In Jharkhand’s Dhanbad, two six-lane elevated flyovers will be built on NH-19 to ease congestion. The Rs 11.3054 bn project aims to bypass busy areas in Nirsa and Gobindpur. In Bihar, a 24.849 km four-lane spur in Kishanganj will connect NH-27 to NH-327E, costing Rs 11.1701 bn. Additionally, a six-lane greenfield corridor will be constructed in Patna at Rs 10.8285 bn, enhancing regional connectivity and traffic efficiency.