The Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari inaugurated ‘Smart Transportation Infra Summit & Expo 2015’ here today. The theme of the two-day summit is ‘Making “Make in India” Happen in Traffic industry”. The summit is being organized by PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The Summit and Expo aims to provide a platform to policy and decision makers, stakeholders and implementers from all the sectors related to traffic and transport industry. Addressing various issues related to road transport and traffic industry on the occasion, Shri Nitin Gadkari said that accidental spots and traffic jam spots should be identified and research should be done to find solution to the factors contributing to accidents and traffic jams. He emphasized upon the development of alternative transport system to decongest traffic load on a particular mode of transportation.
He said that inland waterways are the future of country’s transportation. This is cost effective, environment friendly and a viable mode of transportation. He said that India has a lot of potential in this area. It will reduce the cost of transportation by around 1/5th as compared to the other modes of transportation including road and rail transport. He called upon the Indian industrialists to deliberate upon indigenous technologies that can contribute to the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Make in India’ and development of smart transportation system for ‘Smart Cities’. During the summit deliberations will be held on various topics such as financing smart transportation initiatives, smart mobility in Delhi, technology convergence in smart transportation, intelligent traffic and parking management. Shri G S Bali, Transport Minister, Government of Himachal Pradesh, Shri Alok B. Shriram, President, PHD Chamber and other dignitaries were also present on the occasion.