By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, APR 27, 2020: THE Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways and MSME, Mr Nitin Gadkari, has undertaken a massive outreach exercise in last few days with various sections and sectors of the society by way of webinars, video conference, and other social media platforms. This has resulted in taking communication outreach with about 1.30 crore people.

In the same series, he interacted with Indian overseas students in various countries like UK, Canada, Singapore, other European Countries and Australia under the theme Indian Response to Global Pandemic : Roadmap for India. Addressing the students, he said, the way ahead for India is  clearly in remaining positive and making concerted efforts to convert this adversity into an opportunity. At the same time, he said, "As we are moving ahead restarting various activities, all of us need to follow all the precautions regarding health protocols to prevent transmission of COVID-19 virus. Our industries – big, medium, small or micro will also have to effect a paradigm shift in the way they were doing their business operations wherein apart from  ensuring use of masks, senitisers and social distancing and making food-shelters arrangements for labour in keeping with social distancing norms, they need to take up boosting import substitution, start business and industries in new areas away from major cities thus decongest the metro towns. Companies need to look for new partnerships with global firms attracting them to set up for JVs etc in India."

He stated, that efforts need to meet not only Indian demand but also cater to the global market as many companies and counties are looking to shift away from China.  He called upon the young Indian students studying abroad to contribute in this goal in a big way as youth have stakes in India thriving and leading the world.

Mr Gadkari mentioned that 22 Green Express Highways are being developed and work on a new alignment of Delhi -Mumbai Expressway has started. This has resulted an opportunity for industry to make future investments in industrial clusters, industrial parks & logistics parks. He said, nearly 2000 roadside amenities will be developed alongside these Highways and also that he has plans for setting up  2000 Bus ports in the country.

He invited the young brilliant minds of the students and scientists of Indian origin abroad to participate in India's growth story and the new opportunities in various fields of research, innovation, management, medicine, higher education, etc. Interacting with Overseas Indian Students from 43 Universities of various countries through video conferencing yesterday, he assured that Government is highly supportive of such ventures in in various modes, be it PPP or JV.