The multimodal transport show Prawas 5.0 of the Bus and Car Operators Confederation of India (BOCI) was inaugurated today by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in Gandhinagar. Addressing the event, the Minister stated that India is the fastest-growing economy in the world. After taking charge as the Prime Minister of India, our Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji decided to give the highest priority to the development of infrastructure in the country. The main infrastructure consists of water, power, transport, and communication. Without developing infrastructure, we cannot develop our industry, trade, and business. And without increasing capacity in industry, trade, and business, we cannot create employment opportunities. Without employment opportunities, we cannot eradicate poverty. Therefore, the most important agenda for the government is how we are going to increase employment potential in the country. Today, the transport industry is one of those important industries that can generate the highest employment, and it holds immense potential. That is why I am confident that after its development, millions of youth will get employment.

He stated that four things are very essential in any industry and business: first, Proven Technology; second, Availability of raw material; third, Economic viability; and fourth, Effective marketing ability. Most importantly, the vision for public transport from the Government of India and the state governments is absolutely clear. Clean transport is the need of the hour. Three important 'E's are very crucial for the development of any country. These three 'E's are Ethics, Economy, and Ecology & Environment.

Shri Gadkari said that due to this sector, we contribute 40% of the air pollution in the country. Therefore, clean transport is the most important thing. We already import fossil fuels worth ₹22 lakh crore. We are spending so much of our country's money on importing fossil fuels. To save on imports and reduce pollution, it is necessary for public policy to focus on import substitutes, cost-effectiveness, pollution-free, and indigenous solutions. This is the most important agenda for the government. This is my request to all of you in the transport world: we need your cooperation in this mission of import substitutes, cost-effectiveness, pollution-free, and indigenous solutions.

Further stating, Shri Nitin Gadkari said that another important aspect of this vision is that it must be efficient. Timely service and last-mile connectivity are very crucial. I know that the way the automobile industry is developing buses, that initiative is truly very important for our country. That is why automobile manufacturers and transporters should think about this; we must have a good and comfortable transport system from a technological standpoint. Therefore, my request to the automobile industry is that this is the time we should have world-class technology.

Speaking about road safety, the Minister said that 5 lakh accidents occur every year in our country, resulting in 1 lakh 80 thousand deaths. Moreover, 60% of the people who die belong to the 18 to 34 age group. Therefore, it is highly necessary to prevent these accidents, and that is why road safety is the highest priority for the government. We are conducting many programs. In this, road engineering, improving the quality of roads, identifying black spots, and removing black spots is our responsibility. As far as road safety and civil engineering of roads are concerned, it is basically the responsibility of the state governments and the central government's transport ministry, and we will fulfill it.

In addition, providing information on future projects, he mentioned that when I took charge as a minister, the size of this industry was ₹14 lakh crore and our rank in the world was seventh. But today, we have moved forward, surpassing Japan, and our rank is third in the world. The size of this industry is ₹22 lakh crore. The USA ranks first, and China ranks second. We have brought about many reforms in automobile engineering, and the industry has also cooperated with us. The industry is working very well on alternative fuels, bio-fuels, ethanol, methanol, bio-diesel, LNG, electric, and hydrogen. At the same time, our ministry is conducting a pilot project on 10 routes for hydrogen trials. These include Greater Noida, Delhi, Agra (filling station in Greater Noida); Bhubaneswar, Konark, Puri (station in Bhubaneswar); Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat (station in Vadodara); Sahibabad, Faridabad, Delhi (station in Faridabad); Pune, Mumbai, Mumbai-Pune Express Highway (station is located there); Jamshedpur, Kalinganagar (which is in Balasore); Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi (HRS Trivandrum); then Kochi, Edappally (station in Kochi); Jamnagar, Ahmedabad (station in Rajkot); and Visakhapatnam, Voyyuru (station in Voyyuru).

Shri Gadkari added that this industry is so important that it contributes ₹4.5 lakh crore as State GST and Central GST, yielding the highest revenue to the state governments and the Government of India. This industry is so crucial that it has created 4.5 crore jobs.

Minister of State Shri Jitubhai Vaghani, Kantilal Amrutiya, ministers from the states of Uttarakhand and West Bengal, the President of BOCI, as well as dignitaries from the transport industry, were present at this event.

SM/NP/JD

(Release ID: 2283073) Visitor Counter : 74