Government to Undertake Rs 1 Trn Projects for Delhi’s Infra Revamp
In a conversation with ANI, Gadkari assured, "I guarantee that Rs 1 trillion worth of projects will be executed in the next two years, which will reshape the entire city." He added that under the Namami Gange scheme, the government had launched initiatives to clean the Yamuna River, including efforts to stop sewage water from flowing into it. However, he mentioned that some work was pending due to the Delhi government's failure to contribute its share of funding.
Gadkari shared that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is working on a project valued at Rs 65,000 crore, with Rs 33,000 crore already spent. He further confirmed that the remaining Rs 32,000 crore of work would be completed in the future.
He also highlighted the city's severe issues with air pollution and traffic congestion, noting that the Ministry of Road Construction, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, is actively working on projects to alleviate these problems.
Gadkari reiterated that the government would address Delhi’s pollution issues and mentioned the introduction of electric buses, cars, and scooters to reduce emissions from fossil fuels, which contribute to 40% of Delhi's pollution. The use of CNG vehicles has also been promoted, and he expressed optimism that Delhi would be free from pollution in five years.
He further added that stubble burning in nearby states like Punjab and Haryana had reduced by 20%, following initiatives to convert stubble into CNG through the establishment of 400 plants. Of these, 60 are already operational. Gadkari cited an example of a project in Panipat that aims to produce 1 lakh litres of ethanol, 150 tonnes of bio-vitamin, and 78,000 tonnes of aviation fuel from stubble, which will help lower pollution levels in Delhi while boosting local job creation and farmer welfare.