Gadkari Advocates Major Foreign Stake in Tunnel Projects to Enhance Quality

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari suggests giving a 51% majority stake to foreign partners in joint ventures for building tunnels and detailed project reports to improve work quality. Gadkari emphasizes reducing logistics costs and the need for terrain-specific approaches to address issues like landslides.

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday advocated for a 51% majority stake for foreign partners in joint ventures aimed at building tunnels and creating detailed project reports. This measure aims to improve the quality of work, ensuring only serious and technically qualified players undertake tunnel projects.

Gadkari humorously cited instances where European companies selected Indian partners owning catering services or beauty parlours for tunnel projects. He stressed the necessity for foreign partners to hold a majority stake to maintain high standards. He also criticized DPR makers for lack of oversight, leading to landslides, which are on the rise in India.

The minister emphasized the importance of reducing logistics costs to boost exports, citing that lowering logistics costs to 9% could increase exports by 1.5 times. Gadkari highlighted ongoing and future tunnel projects and stressed the need for innovative, cost-effective solutions tailored to India's diverse terrain, especially in the Himalayan regions.

(With inputs from agencies.)