India needs a pragmatic land acquisition law to facilitate infrastructure development.
Union Minister for Road Transport, Highway and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari addressing at Silver Jubilee Celebration function of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai June 25, 2014.
Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Mr Nitin Gadkari today said that India needs a pragmatic land acquisition law to facilitate balanced development.
“The present Land Acquisition Act with its stringent provisions discourages coming up of any project” said Mr Gadkari, while speaking at the Silver Jubilee celebration of Jawaharlal Nehru Port, JNPT in Mumbai on Wednesday evening.
The minister said due compensation for land should be made, but it should not make the projects unviable. “There can be no compromise on compensation and rehabilitation” he added.
Union Minister for Road Transport, Highway and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari awarded to Best Container Operator companies at Silver Jubilee Celebration function of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai June 25, 2014. Mr. Vishwapati Tripathi, Secretary, Shipping is also seen in the picture.
Nitin Gadkari said infrastructure development is the backbone of the economy, with water, power, transport and communication being the pivotal sectors. He said, with growing international trade, shipping has also joined the group of key infrastructure sectors.
The Minister said Indian port infrastructure needs to be modernized by using up-to-date technology to derive benefits of growing trade volumes.
Mr Gadkari said the Indian ports and shipping sector should not merely depend upon funds from the domestic market, but also explore possibilities of raising cheaper credit from abroad.
Union Minister for Road Transport, Highway and Shipping Shri Nitin Gadkari released a book at Silver Jubilee Celebration function of Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust in Mumbai June 25, 2014. Mr. Vishwapati Tripathi, Secretary, Shipping is also seen in the picture.
The Minister complimented JNPT for its performance and said that with the use of modern management techniques, technological upgradation, it has the potential to become one of the finest container ports in the world.
“The proposed dedicated freight corridor from JNPT to Delhi, eight laning of Mumbai-Pune Highway and its connectivity with the soon to be widened Mumbai-Goa highway will help JNPT move its container traffic more efficiently and quickly” the Minister observed.
Mr Gadkari ended his spirited speech on a lighter note stating “where there is a will there is a way; if there is no will, then there is only survey”.
About JNPT.
JNPT, which was established in 1989 to decongest the Mumbai Port, has grown to become India’s biggest container port. It handles 56% of the container cargo and is currently ranked 31st among the Top 100 container ports of the world.
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