From Water Planes to Expressways: Gadkari’s 5 Key Announcements at Republic Plenary Summit to Boost India’s Infrastructure

New Delhi: Nitin Gadkari , Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways made a series of key announcements at the Republic Plenary Summit 2025 - The Limitless India, highlighting governments vision to boost infrastructure. He also stressed that India's future strength lies in converting knowledge into wealth. Here’s a look at the major announcements made by Union Minister Gadkari which, highlighted the roadmap for India's next phase of growth in infrastructure.

5 Major announcements made by Union Minister Gadkari at Republic Plenary Summit

• Drop in Solar Power Costs Boosts Green Energy: Nitin Gadkari announced that India is focusing on green power as a key priority for the future, with solar energy playing a central role. He highlighted the outstanding progress made, noting that the cost of solar power has reduced from Rs. 6.50 per unit to Rs. 2.40 per unit. Currently, over 42% of India's power comes from green sources, reflecting the nation's commitment to sustainable infrastructure and energy self-sufficiency.
• Flash Charging System for Buses: Union Minister also revealed an exciting development in transportation with the launch of a pilot project for flash-charging buses in Nagpur. He said, A 135-seater bus charges in just 30 seconds and can travel up to 40 kilometers before needing another charge. With a lower cost of lithium-ion batteries, bus fares will be 30% cheaper than diesel buses. “If successful, the project will expand to the Delhi-Jaipur highway.” he added.

Also Read: Bengaluru to Mysuru In Just 1 Hour, Chennai in 2: Gadkari's Big Reveal

• Taj Mahal from Delhi in 15 Minutes on a Water Plane: Gadkari shared his vision for introducing water airplanes in India, revealing recent discussions with SpiceJet Chairman, Ajay Singh. "I’ve always dreamed of water airplanes operating in India. Just yesterday, I spoke with Ajay Singh, and SpiceJet is planning to acquire 100 water planes," Gadkari said. These planes, set to land on water, will soon be a reality in the country. Gadkari providing an example of a new travel route: "Imagine taking off from the Yamuna in Delhi and reaching the Taj Mahal in just 15 minutes. You could visit the monument and return to Delhi the same day." This initiative promises to reshape domestic travel and enhance connectivity across India.
• India's Automobile Industry Growth: Union Minister hared notable developments in India’s automobile industry, announcing a remarkable growth trajectory. "When I became the minister in 2014, the size of the industry was Rs. 7 lakh crore. Today, it stands at Rs. 22 lakh crore. India has become the third-largest automobile manufacturer in the world," Gadkari said. He further highlighted the country’s advancements in green technology, saying, "We are also making strides in green hydrogen, with Tata trucks running on hydrogen, and several routes are being planned for hydrogen-powered vehicles."
• Announcements On Upcoming Expressways: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Thursday said that the government is working on 36 green express highways in the entire country to take the road network infrastructure to the next level.Union Minister also said that in next 3-4 months, Bengaluru to Chennai will be reduced to just 2 hours from existing 6 hours. Mysuru to Bengaluru will be covered in just 1 hour from existing 3-3.5 hours. Meerut to Delhi has already been reduced to just 45 minutes, from earlier 4 hours.

Announcing the above mentioned key developments, Union Minister Gadkari also highlighted the important elements that will lead to India's development, for which he said, "Innovation, entrepreneurship, science, technology, research, skilled practices—these are the elements we call knowledge, and converting knowledge into wealth is our future."

Gadkari said, "When it comes to the development of any country, there cannot be growth without industries, employment, or capital investment. Without these, poverty, starvation, and unemployment cannot be eradicated. Our goal is to make India self-reliant, prosperous, rich, and powerful."

"We aim to have a $5 trillion economy and become the third-largest economy in the world, which is the dream of our Prime Minister. To achieve this, we must develop our infrastructure—water, power, transport, and communication." he added.