Introduction
Nitin Gadkari, As the longest-serving Minister for Road Transport & Highways, he is an Indian politician who has held the role for more than nine years. His contributions to road building, like as the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, have earned him the title of “Expressway Man of India” in addition to his recognition for his work in Maharashtra. In addition, he is credited with creating the first public-private partnerships in the transportation industry. In the nine years he presided over, the Indian highway network expanded by 59%.
Early life
Jairam and Bhanutai Gadkari welcomed Gadkari into the world on May 27, 1957, in Nagpur, India. In his youth, he participated actively in the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad and the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha. He graduated from Nagpur University with an M.Com. and an LL.B.
Nitin Gadkari, Political career
Between 1995 and 1999, Gadkari was Maharashtra's Minister of Public Works, extensively reorganizing the department. He oversaw the BJP's Maharashtra state unit as well. He pushed for privatization and private investment in infrastructure, allocating a sizeable portion of funds for rural connectivity, which allowed 98% of Maharashtra's population to have access to all-weather roads. Under his leadership, the National Rural Road Development Committee launched the ₹600 billion Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana, a program to connect rural roads. Gadkari received the 2020–21 Most Efficient Member of Parliament Award, which was given in memory of the late Madhavrao Limaye.
Positions served
1. Minister in the Maharashtra government
2. Chairman of the Purti Group of Companies
3. President of the Maharashtra BJP
4. Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council
5. Former Public Works Department Minister in Maharashtra
6. Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
7. Elected in 1989 and re-elected several times to the Maharashtra Government Legislative Council
8. Maharashtra's Nagpur District Guardian Minister and the Indian BJP's National President
PWD Minister of Maharashtra from 1996 to 1999
In his capacity as Maharashtra's PWD Minister, Gadkari accelerated the Mumbai-Pune Expressway's construction. In 1997, he gave the project to MSRDC on a Build-Operate-Transfer basis, which sped up its development. The route was fully operational by April 2002, having opened in segments beginning in 2000. Gadkari also oversaw the building of 55 flyovers in Mumbai, which helped to reduce traffic in the area.
As President of BJP, 2009–2013
When Gadkari was elected head of the BJP in December 2009, the party was going through hard times following a string of defeats in the Lok Sabha elections. In the book “India Aspires,” he gave a detailed description of his development goals, putting special emphasis on waste management, alternative fuels, and green energy. Throughout his tenure, he prioritized Integral Humanism and Antyodaya, and established committees to oversee the development initiatives of BJP state governments and offer policy recommendations. January of 2013 saw his resignation as party president.
2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections
By a margin of 285,000 votes, Gadkari emerged victorious in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections from the Nagpur constituency, besieging Congress candidate Vilas Muttemwar. In 2019, he prevailed by a margin of 216,000 votes over Congress challenger Nana Patole to keep his seat.
Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister
As Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Gadkari increased the pace of road construction from two to thirty kilometers per day. He put ₹1 trillion worth of stalled projects to rest and set aside money for environmentally friendly projects. By 2022–2023, he wants to increase highway construction to 68 km/day and encourage the use of green fuels. In an attempt to increase road safety, Gadkari required safety measures for cars in India. His attempts elicited conflicting responses.
Industrial career
During his political career, Gadkari founded a number of private businesses and industries, such as Purti Power and Sugar Ltd. and Poly sack Industrial Society Ltd. He was accused of anomalies, but he maintained that he had done nothing illegal. He was under investigation for improper investments and loans that his companies had received. His 2013 BJP presidential reelection attempt was hampered by these scandals. But in 2014, the Income Tax department exonerated him of any misconduct.
Personal life
Nikhil, Sarang, and Ketki are Nitin and Kanchan Gadkari's three children. They were married in 2004. Sarang is wed to Madhura Rodi, while Nikhil is wed to Rutuja Pathak. The Gadkari family eats exclusively vegetarianism.