Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari stated that the government aims to reduce India's logistics costs to single-digit levels within the next 2-3 years, in an effort to enhance the country's economic competitiveness. Speaking at the CNBC-TV18 India Business Leader Awards in Mumbai, Gadkari mentioned that currently, logistics costs in India stand at 14-16per cent , while in China, it is 8per cent , and in European countries and the USA, it is 12per cent . He explained that the introduction of expressways would significantly reduce travel times, such as cutting the journey from Delhi to Mumbai to 12 hours and from Chennai to Bengaluru to 2 hours. He expressed confidence that, due to these developments, logistics costs in India would decrease to 9per cent within two to three years.

Gadkari also highlighted the importance of exploring hydrogen as a key fuel for the future, emphasizing the role of biomass and biodigester technologies in producing hydrogen and CNG. He added that India was poised to become a global leader in alternative and biofuels within the next decade. The minister mentioned that the total toll revenue in the country is currently Rs 520 billion, with projections indicating it could reach Rs 1.4 lakh trillion within two years. He reassured that there were no funding issues for projects, as every project undertaken is economically viable. With a budget of Rs 2.8 trillion, Gadkari confirmed that he has strong backing from the Finance Ministry, and that infrastructure development, particularly in sectors like water, power, transport, and communication, has been a priority for the Prime Minister. Regarding challenges in projects such as the Worli-Bandra Link, Gadkari stressed the need for innovative strategies and collaborative efforts to ensure timely completion of projects.

The event, themed 'Leadership in Action,' honored leaders who demonstrated conviction, innovation, and purposeful disruption. This year’s India Business Leader Awards recognized visionary leaders for their resilience, foresight, and transformative impact