Roads to add 2 per cent growth to economy

Union road transport, highways and shipping minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday said that his ministry aims to add two per cent to country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in two years and create 50 lakh jobs in five years.

“We want to make this industry of international standards. We want to change our rules and regulations,” Mr Gadkari said.

“At the same time, our target is within two years adding of two per cent by my department to the GDP of the country... It is two per cent by road sector, by shipping, inland water ways and automobile industry,” he added.

Mr Gadkari was speaking after inaugurating the international construction equipment and construction technology trade fair Excon 2015.

Stressing on the importance of creation of jobs, he said his agenda was to create 50 lakh jobs in five years. He said there is a need for skilled manpower with the addition of new technology and innovation to the sector. “We have 22 per cent shortage of drivers...; we are now going to open a new scheme for training of drivers.”

Asking industry to concentrate on skilling the manpower, he said, “By training the manpower in India we can encourage employment potential. This is one of the targets of my ministry and policy of our government,” he added.