New Delhi, May 29
Nitin Gadkari today assumed the charge of the Road Transport and Highways and Shipping Ministry.

He promised of transparency in the ministry’s functioning and emphasised on restoring the Ganga’s glory and tapping its potential as an internal transport mode. Gadkari said, “It is my dream to restore the Ganga’s glory and utilise its potential by using it as a waterway from Gangotri to Kanpur and Kanpur to Patna to transport cargo and man.”

The minister said he would soon conduct a meeting with officials concerned to chart out ways for transforming the river into a mode for cargo and public transport.

“We will assess the possibilities of dredging and other measures. The cleanliness of the Ganga has been in the BJP manifesto,” he said. He said the ministry would coordinate with others ministries such as environment and forests, tourism, power and water resources, etc. for developing transport and tourism along the Ganga.

“The ministry’s functioning will have transparency, accountability and e-governance. All projects will be approved in a transparent manner through e-governance mechanism,” he said.

He laid emphasis on the usage of inland waterways and coastal shipping for cheaper and environmental-friendly transport. He said the usage of E-85 engines, presently used in some of the western countries, would be explored in India.

Gadkari has also said that his ministry officials have been asked to look into the capital and maintenance costs of concrete and tarmac-laid roads. He said international standards and technologies were sought to be adopted for all areas of improvement in his ministry.