Highway building, environment go hand in hand, says Gadkari

Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has said that highways and infrastructure projects, especially in the Himalayan states, were being built in an environment-friendly way and that the allegations of environmental damage were "completely wrong".

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India imports ₹22 trillion worth of fossil fuel which causes pollution, the minister said in an interview at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit. "What are these people who are questioning the highway projects doing about that?"

"The time that will be saved (through highways) will also lead to less pollution and savings on fuel. Secondly, isn't it important to increase the number of tourists in the country for its development? Everywhere in the world, (nations) make policies to drive tourists to their countries; such thinking doesn't prevail anywhere else in the world," he said.

Gadkari cited the example of travel between Dehradun and Delhi, saying it took nine hours. "How much pollution was it creating?" The Modi government rebuilt the old highway, which increased the number of pilgrims by 2.5 times, creating a business environment of taxis, buses, restaurants and hotels and employment, he said.