On April 4, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that a better road network is the key to development while speaking at the inauguration of five national highway (NH) projects. "The central government is working to improve road connections throughout the country. "The road network is fast being upgraded, which is assisting in the creation of new employment opportunities," Gadkari said.
According to an official announcement, Gadkari officially opened Jind-Gohana NH-352A, Bhiwani-Mundhal-Jind NH-709A, Jhajjar-Loharu NH-334B, UP/Haryana border to Gohana NH-334B, Mukarba Chowk to Panipat NH-44, and Mukarba Chowk to Panipat NH-44, which cost Rs 1,400 crore.
"Development requires a better road network," Gadkari remarked. He went on to say that there are four elements that are crucial for development. "Where these four things occur, there is industry, employment, and growth," he explained.
Gadkari cited former US President John F Kennedy's remark that "American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good," as an example of how good roads lead to progress.
The Union minister referenced the Delhi-Meerut highway as an example, claiming that since its completion, travel time has been cut from four and a half hours to 40 minutes. Gadkari further stated that once the Delhi-Amritsar road project is completed, travel time between the two cities will be reduced to four hours, the route between Delhi and Katra will be six hours, and the journey between Delhi and Srinagar will take eight hours.
According to him, the Delhi-Chandigarh route will soon be finished in two hours, and many people who go by air may opt for road trips after the travel time is dramatically reduced. Gadkari also mentioned a few more projects, including the construction of Asia's largest tunnel in Zojila, J&K.
Gadkari responded that his department is working on Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar's desire to start pod taxis in the state. "We're going to start a 250-person pod taxi service from Delhi to Sonipat and Panipat," he added, adding that the Haryana government should submit a request to the Centre for approval.
Khattar, speaking on the occasion, said Gadkari is continually working on innovative technology. The central government had promised 17 national highways for Haryana, of which at least 12 had been finished, according to the chief minister. The event was also attended by Union Minister of State V K Singh, Haryana's Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala, and Sonipat MP Ramesh Chander Kaushik.
Khattar had previously stated, while inaugurating the Indradhanush Auditorium at GVM Mahila College in Sonipat, that girls from households earning up to Rs 1.80 lakh per year will receive free education until post-graduation.
"These families' daughters can attend private educational institutes or government-run centres," he said. According to Khattar, the state government has established one college every 20 kilometres so that female students do not have to go far to pursue higher education.