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Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Protest held against Bijali Mahadev Ropeway project in Kullu
The faith in the local deity (devta) runs supreme in Himachal Pradesh and this was witnessed once again on Friday as residents took to streets seeking scrapping of the Bijali Mahadev ropeway project citing 'deity's orders'. People stage a protest against Bijli Mahadev ropeway project in Kullu. (Aqil Khan /HT) The protesters which had sizeable number of women and elderly, was mobilized by the Bijili Mahadev Ropeway Sangharsh Samiti (BMRSS) and they submitted a memorandum to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union minister Nitin Gadkari demanding cancellation of the project citing 'deity's orders.' Deputy Commissioner, Kullu, Torul S Raveesh, on Friday said: 'A memorandum was handed over and we will be forwarding the same to the government.' MLA defends project, terms protest politically motivated MLA of Kullu, Sunder Singh Thakur said, 'Those against development are opposing the project in garb of the devta's order and the project is politically motivated.' Lashing out at the BJP for 'double speak', Thakur said, 'In the 2022 assembly elections, when former MP and former MLA Maheshwar Singh campaigned by putting up posters for the construction of Bijli Mahadev ropeway, no one opposed it at that time and today they are opposing it, this is their hypocrisy'. Bijli Mahadev is a famous pilgrimage site in Kullu district. It is a Union government project under the Parvatmala Yojana, also known as the National Ropeways Development Programme — designed to offer a sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional road transport in hilly areas. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has laid the foundation stone of the ropeway project for Bijli Mahadev in March 2024. The residents of Kharal valley, which lies at the foothills of the Bijli Mahadev temple have been holding agitations against the ropeway project. The residents say that the 2.4-km-long ropeway project would destroy the hill of Bijli Mahadev, pointing towards the cracking up at several places. The protesters gathered at Ramshila in Kullu and walked till Dhalpur ground where they raised slogans against the project, where heavy deployment of police was done. 'Devta is against the project and we are here to demand scrapping of the project. Development cannot be at the cost of the faith', said 75-year-old Deena Ram. 'Bijli Mahadev is a centre of religious faith and commercial centre should not be built there. Keeping in mind the faith of local people, it should be canceled,' said Devika Rani, 65, a local. The president of Devbhoomi Jagran Manch, Kshitij Sood, said, 'Devbani is supreme in Devbhoomi Kullu and the deity is repeatedly opposing the construction so this ropeway should be cancelled'. President of BMRSS, Suresh Negi, said, 'People are on the streets against the ropeway project as the devta is against the same. The project is coming up against the orders of the devta.' Former president of Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Kullu, Ram Singh said, 'People and organizations associated with Dev Samaj will have to come together. He also warned the president of Kardar Sangh to respect the people associated with Dev Samaj and join them in their campaign. I will take your voice to Delhi'. Vinender Singh Jamwal, caretaker of Bijli Mahadev temple said, 'We have a special request to the central government, Prime Minister and Nitin Gadkari that they should cancel this ropeway and follow the order of the deity and respect the public feelings of the people here'.
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Indian roads will match US standards in 2 years, says Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, said on Monday that India's road infrastructure will match that of the United States within two years. He backed the claim by pointing to the government's decade-long focus on investment in the sector. "The question is not about the facelift, it has already changed. You have just watched the newsreel, the main picture is yet to start. The projects in the pipeline are progressing rapidly. In another two years, you will be able to see that Indian road infrastructure will be similar to that of America," Gadkari told ANI in an interview, when asked when Indian roads would undergo a complete transformation. He added, 'Some people from America met me and said our infrastructure is better than America.' Improved roads lower logistics costs Gadkari explained that improved highways and expressways have reduced logistics costs, thereby enhancing India's export competitiveness. "If we raise our exports, it will improve our agricultural sector, manufacturing, and services, among all other sectors," he said. He noted that India has historically faced high logistics costs—around 16 per cent of gross domestic product (GDP)—compared to 8 per cent in China and 12 per cent in the US and Europe. "Our roads were not good, our ports were not good. Traffic congestion raised costs," he said. Major projects underway Gadkari outlined several key infrastructure projects in progress, including 25 greenfield expressways, a 3,000-km highway to boost port connectivity, and ₹1 trillion worth of roads linking key religious tourism circuits. He added that the government is connecting Buddhist circuits and the Char Dham pilgrimage routes with all-weather highways. "We are developing 36 tunnels between Jammu and Srinagar; 23 have been completed, and works for another 4–5 are underway," Gadkari said. "We are developing 15 ropeways under Parvatmala Yojana, besides 35 multi-modal logistics parks." Infrastructure: The backbone of growth Public infrastructure is central to economic growth, improving connectivity, trade, and quality of life. Over the last decade, India has made significant advances in this area. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), launched in 2021, seeks to bring together various ministries—such as Railways and Roadways—for integrated planning and streamlined execution of major infrastructure projects. India currently has the second-largest road network in the world. Its National Highways (NH) span approximately 146,000 km, forming the backbone of national transport. According to a ministry statement released in February 2025, the network has grown substantially—from 65,569 km in 2004, to 91,287 km in 2014, and to 146,145 km by 2024.
News18
09-06-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Roads Like US In 2 Years': Nitin Gadkari Says Rs 1.5-Lakh-Crore Plan Will Ease Delhi Traffic
Last Updated: Nitin Gadkari said 25 greenfield expressways, a 3,000-km port connectivity highway, and Rs 1 lakh crore worth of roads connecting religious tourism circuits are underway Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, in an interview on Monday, said that Indian road infrastructure will be comparable to America's in another two years. 'The question is not about the facelift, it has already changed. You have just watched the news reel, the main picture is yet to start. The projects in the pipeline are progressing rapidly. In another two years, you will be able to see that Indian road infrastructure will be similar to that of America," Gadkari, told ANI. 'Some people from America met me and said our infrastructure is better than America," he supplemented. #WATCH | Delhi: On constructing roads in the country, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari says "We are building so many highways in Delhi that we will reach from Delhi to Dehradun in 2 hours, Delhi to Amritsar in 3.5-4 hours, Delhi to Katra in 6 hours, Delhi to Srinagar in 8 hours,… — ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025 WORK IN PROGRESS Speaking of works in the offing, the minister said 25 greenfield expressways, a 3,000-km port connectivity highway, and Rs 1 lakh crore worth of roads connecting religious tourism circuits are underway. He spoke of connecting Buddhist circuits and Char Dhams with good all-weather roads. 'We are building so many highways in Delhi that we will reach from Delhi to Dehradun in 2 hours, Delhi to Amritsar in 3.5-4 hours, Delhi to Katra in 6 hours, Delhi to Srinagar in 8 hours, Delhi to Jaipur in 2 hours, Chennai to Bengaluru in 2 hours, Bengaluru to Mysuru in 1 hour, Meerut to Delhi in 50 minutes. We are making about 25 more Green Express Highways like this, and I think this will change the whole map of India…We are constructing the Kedarnath and Hemkund ropeways in Uttarakhand… We are making roads worth Rs 1.5 lakh crore to free Delhi from the problems of traffic jams and pollution…," he said. 'We are developing 36 tunnels between Jammu and Srinagar; 23 have been completed, and works for another 4-5 are underway. We are developing 15 ropeways under Parvatmala Yojana, besides 35 multi-modal logistics parks.". 'Today, if you leave from Manali to Rohtang Pass, it would take 8 minutes via Atal Tunnel, which used to take 3.5 hours earlier… We are building 36 tunnels between Srinagar and Jammu. Out of which 23 have been completed. 4-5 tunnels are under construction… The distance of 240 km from Delhi to Chennai has been reduced. This has fulfilled our childhood dream of going from Kashmir to Kanniyakumari. We are building so many highways in Delhi…," he said. #WATCH | Delhi: On constructing roads in the country, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari says "Today, if you leave from Manali to Rohtang Pass, it would take 8 minutes via Atal Tunnel, which used to take 3.5 hours earlier… We are building 36 tunnels between Srinagar and Jammu. Out of… — ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2025 ON LOGISTICS The Minister said that the good roads laid out by his government have reduced logistics costs in India, adding that it will further improve export competitiveness. 'If we raise our exports, it will improve our agricultural sector, manufacturing, and services, among all other sectors," he said. The minister said the main concern in India was the high logistics cost–16 per cent, against China's 8 per cent and the US and European countries' 12 per cent. 'Our roads were not good, our ports were not good. Traffic congestion raised costs," he told ANI. With improved roads, Gadkari said the BJP-led government brought down the logistics costs to 9 per cent. 'This reduced cost will make us export competitive," he reiterated. The PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP), launched in 2021, is designed to bring together various Ministries, including Railways and Roadways, to ensure integrated planning and coordinated execution of infrastructure projects. India has the second-largest road network in the world, and its National Highways span a total length of about 146,000 km, forming the primary arterial network of the country. According to a ministry statement in early February 2025, India's National Highway (NH) network expanded from 65,569 km in 2004 to 91,287 km in 2014 and 1,46,145 km in 2024. National highway stretches with four or more lanes grew 2.6 times from 18,371 km in 2014 to 48,422 km in 2024. Operational High-Speed Corridors increased from 93 km in 2014 to 2,138 km in 2024. National highway construction pace rose 2.8 times from 12.1 km/day in 2014-15 to 33.8 km/day in 2023-24. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
