Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has highlighted the long-term durability of the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, saying the road remains pothole-free nearly three decades after its construction.
“I built the Mumbai-Pune Expressway 27 years ago. It’s still pothole-free, but nobody writes about it. However, when (a structure) at the missing link collapsed recently, I got trolled on social media, despite it being a state government project,” Gadkari said while addressing the ‘Festival of Thinkers’ organised by Symbiosis International University in Pune.
“Guess social media is good for quality control,” the BJP MP added, while noting that the forest department had earlier not granted permission for construction of the Missing Link.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the 13.3-km Missing Link project in May. The project is designed to bypass the steep mountain section of the expressway, improving road safety while reducing the distance and travel time between Mumbai and Pune. In July, heavy rainfall triggered a landslide near Tunnel 2 at the Missing Link entrance.
Gadkari stressed that infrastructure projects should be designed by anticipating future requirements rather than focusing only on immediate needs. He said planning should consider a 25- to 50-year horizon.
“I built the Mumbai-Pune Expressway 27 years ago. It’s still pothole-free, but nobody writes about it. However, when (a structure) at the missing link collapsed recently, I got trolled on social media, despite it being a state government project,” he said.
He advocated greater use of drones, artificial intelligence, LiDAR and satellite technology to monitor roads and detect defects before they become serious.
“Roads and infrastructure provide a boost to industry, trade, tourism and employment. Better connectivity reduces transportation costs, increases competitiveness of Indian industries and helps farmers access wider markets,” Gadkari said.
He also linked infrastructure development with innovation, research, technology and job creation, while stressing environmental sustainability and ethical growth.
Gadkari said Pune could see infrastructure projects worth around Rs 60,000 crore in the coming years, with innovative financing mechanisms being explored to support the city’s expanding requirements.
Source: NDTV
