People need to pay for good roads: Gadkari on toll charges on highways

So, a truck will be able to undertake more trips, which would in turn mean more business, Gadkari said.The minister said the expressways would also facilitate air ambulances.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said people need to pay if they want a better road infrastructure in the country and mentioned how expressways help in reducing travel time and fuel costs.

While reviewing the progress of Delhi-Mumbai Expressway (DME) in Sohna, Road Transport Minister Gadkari said the farmers who have their land near the expressway should not sell it to developers, instead they should partner with developers and build road-side amenities.

Drawing an inference with regard to rise in travel costs due to toll charges, the minister said, ''If you want to use an air-conditioned hall, you have to pay for it. Otherwise, you can arrange a marriage on a field as well.'' Gadkari pointed out that the expressway will decrease travel time significantly, which will result in reduction in cost of fuel.

''The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway will decrease travel time to 12 hours. A truck takes 48 hours to reach Mumbai from Delhi. But on the expressway, it will take only 18 hours. ''So, a truck will be able to undertake more trips, which would in turn mean more business,'' Gadkari said.

The minister said the expressways would also facilitate air ambulances. ''We have also envisaged a helicopter ambulance service for accident victims and there will be a heliport, which will use drone services for business as well,'' he said.

Gadkari also said Delhi-Katra expressway will be launched in two years, and once operational, vehicles will be able to reach Katra from Delhi in six hours. The minister said that Delhi-Katra expressway would reduce the distance between the two cities to 572 km from the current 727 km. PTI BKS MKJ