Parul
As per the MSME ministry, Union minister Nitin Gadkari called for increased investment by international institutions and bodies in the Indian highways and MSME sectors.
Highlighting road safety measures taken by the country, the minister said that the objective is to set out to achieve zero road fatalities by 2030.
Gadkari highlighted that the automobile and micro, small and medium enterprises are the two growth engines of the country’s economy. While, addressing the Indo-Australian Chamber of Commerce and Women Innovator on Trade Investment and collaborations in road infrastructure and MSMEs, the minister said that India and Australia are already co-operating in the road safety sector. He also added that this cooperation has provided better designs for roads and awareness opportunities for the public.
The minister highlighted that under Indian Road Safety Assessment Programme, 21,000 km roads have been assessed and about 3,000 km road length is under technological upgradation.
The official statement read, “it is estimated that these upgradation programmes will bring about 50 per cent reduction in road accidents.”
The minister also informed that the objective is to set out to achieve zero road fatalities by 2030 and that his ministry has taken lot of initiatives to reduce road accidents. World Bank and ADB have committed Rs 7,000 crore each for this campaign.
The union minister further pointed out that by social awareness and education, improving emergency services, pressing for medical insurance, providing more hospitals, the country is inching closer to achieving its Road safety targets.
Gadkari also stated that investment in infra and insurance sectors has been opened up, as there are huge opportunities in insurance, pension and share economies. The minister said the government is concentrating on village, agricultural and tribal sectors for providing employment opportunities there. He also emphasized that it is the micro, small and medium enterprises (MSME) sector which will drive the Indian economy in the coming years.
