20-min boat ride will take you from Sobo to new airport: Minister
MUMBAI: Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said waterway connectivity to the upcoming Navi Mumbai airport will help commuters from south Mumbai reach the airport within 20 minutes.
Adding that a similar model is in place in Venice, the Union minister for road, transport and water resources said, “I was impressed with the water-taxi connectivity I saw in Venice. I had asked the Mumbai Port Trust (MBPT) to explore the option of water transport to the new airport. A consultant appointed to study the feasibility of the option has given a green signal.”
Gadkari was speaking at the launch of a book by author and politician Tuhin Shah at Rangsharda Auditorium in Bandra. The event was also attended by state forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, industrialist Ratan Tata and real estate developer Niranjan Hiranandani.
“You will not have to travel by road, train or Metro to reach the airport. I had asked the authorities to create a system by which people can reach the airport in just 20 minutes,” Gadkari said.
The Union minister also said no contractors of road work will be spared if inferior quality of work is found anywhere in the country. “I have warned wellknown contractors that if shoddy work is found, then I will run the bulldozer over them. This work is my country’s asset and I am not going to tolerate any shoddiness.” He also claimed the highway construction in India will be increased to 40kms per day by next year as against the current pace of 28kms of construction per day.
Gadkari also said nearly 70% of the Ganga cleaning work will be completed by March 2019 and the entire work will be completed by March 2020. “There are eight project plans and most of it is complete.” He also raised concerns over the road accidents taking place every year. “Around 1.5 lakh people die in nearly five lakh accidents that take place every year. We are working on road safety projects. One of the bills I have proposed, which is pending in the parliament, emphasises on road safety. I aim to prevent 50% of accidents taking place every year.” Meanwhile, commenting on the country’s unemployment situation, vice-chairman of Niti Aayog, Rajiv Kumar, who was also present at the event said, “There have been attempts made to deny achievements the government has made. Fifty lakh jobs have been created by work orders worth ₹16 lakh crore which were issued by Gadkari’s department.”