Stressing on the need to develop waterways as a preferred mode of transport, union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari Tuesday said the Central government will construct 30 km of highways every day for the next two years.The minister also promised Rs. 10,000 crore to West Bengal for building roads.Slamming the Congress for neglecting development and ruining the transport sector of the country, Gadkari assured that the Centre is committed to building infrastructure."When China's nearly 44 percent of traffic moves through waterways, India, in this respect, lags far behind with only 3 percent of its cargo and 0.3 of passengers movement done through waterways," the senior BJP leader said here while addressing a party rally."We have stressed on building the infrastructure for inland waterways which is far cheaper than road or railways. We are building ports, both sea and riverine and plans are afoot to start hovercraft and waterbus services across the country," he said.
The former BJP president also slammed the opposition including the Congress of trying to malign his party on the basis of religion and caste."Some parties who themselves pursue religion of caste and politics are trying to malign us on the basis of religion, saying we are against the minorities. But it is them who are creating ruckus in parliament and trying to create communal disharmony," he said. "The Congress ruled for over 60 years, but only looted the country. Unlike the Congress, the Narendra Modi government has ushered in development and none of the government schemes are based on caste or religion," he said.
"Earlier only one kilometre per day of road was constructed, but we will be constructing 30 km of national highway every day," Gadkari added. "My department will provide Rs. 10,000 crore to the West Bengal government for building roads in the state.""India is rich but the people are poor. Riled with farmer suicides, unemployment and lack of development, the people had sought change and we promise what the Congress couldn't do in 60 years we will do in five years because BJP pursues the politics of development," the minister added.