Nitin Gadkari says Rs 100,000 crore coming to Nagpur: Rs 50,000 crore for one locality, a mega textile market & a new bus port

Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari has announced plans for projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore in Nagpur, covering infrastructure, transport facilities, markets and industrial development. He said much of the planning and design work had been completed and that he had cleared some projects as recently as Saturday. Addressing the Viksit Vidarbha Summit on Sunday, Gadkari called Nagpur India's logistics capital and outlined plans for projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore to boost the city's infrastructure and development. “Investment of Rs 1 lakh crore will come to Nagpur in the coming time. Most of the planning has been done, designs have been made,” the minister said.

Nagpur development plan: Rs 50,000 crore redevelopment in Kachipura

Gadkari said the redevelopment plan for Kachipura, a slum area in Ramdaspeth, was almost ready. He added that he had finalised the related plans on Saturday.

Read more - No engine, no driver, 6 km journey: Seven empty train coaches roll away from Tamil Nadu yard, derail near Tirupattur


“There is a slum called Kachipura in Ramdaspeth. Its redevelopment plan is almost complete. I finalised everything just yesterday. Development worth Rs 50,000 crore is happening there,” he said.

The minister also spoke about the redevelopment of Cotton Market and Santra Market, two important commercial areas in Nagpur.

Textile market, four-lane road and agro convention centre planned

Several projects are also planned to improve Nagpur's commercial infrastructure and connectivity. Gadkari said the road from Mayo Hospital in Itwari to Shaheed Chowk is being developed into a four-lane stretch, with two markets planned along the route. He also announced progress on a major textile market project near Empress Mill, opposite Geeta Mandir.

“The biggest textile market is being built at Empress Mill opposite Geeta Mandir. Work on it has been done up to two floors,” Gadkari said.

An agro convention centre is also being developed on Amravati Road with the support of Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

The minister further said Nagpur Central Jail would be shifted outside the city, while a large private bus port is being constructed at Ajni.

Nagpur produces 16 tonnes of compressed biogas daily from waste

Highlighting the city's waste management initiatives, Gadkari said Nagpur has become the first city in the country to produce compressed biogas from segregated municipal waste using technology sourced from the Netherlands.

“Nagpur is the first city in the country where compressed biogas is being made from segregated municipal garbage with the help of technology sourced from the Netherlands. Currently, the facility produces 16-tonne compressed biogas daily,” he said.

The project uses segregated household and municipal waste to produce fuel, offering an alternative use for city garbage.

Mother Dairy's Rs 1,000 crore plant in Butibori to be inaugurated soon

Gadkari also shared details of Mother Dairy's upcoming plant at Butibori, which involves an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. He said the facility is expected to be inaugurated in the next two months.

The plant will produce ice cream, paneer and cheese, with plans to export these products.

“Mother Dairy is going to procure 50 lakh litres of milk per day. The dairy's higher milk procuring rates forced two private firms to raise theirs too,” Gadkari said.

He added that the plant would support the regional dairy sector and create opportunities for farmers supplying milk.

Gadkari pitches international cargo hub to boost Vidarbha shrimp exports

The minister also spoke about the export potential of Vidarbha's shrimp industry, saying the region has not contributed to the country's fish exports this year despite the popularity of its produce.

“The price of shrimp in Nagpur is Rs 800 a kg, which is quite cheap considering international prices. If we get an international cargo hub here, then Vidarbha's shrimp can be sold in Dubai and Singapore,” he said.

Gadkari said better cargo connectivity could help local producers reach international markets and increase export opportunities.

Gadkari responds to E20 petrol criticism

During his address, Gadkari also spoke about the criticism surrounding E20 petrol, accusing people with vested interests of spreading misinformation about the fuel.

“Since 2022, four crore cars and 20 crore two-wheelers have been running on E20. No one's vehicle got damaged, and no one's mileage went down. Many people have vested interest in crude oil imports of Rs 22 lakh crore,” he said.


Inputs from TOI