Rs 60,000 Crore Infrastructure Projects Planned for Pune: Nitin Gadkari

Pune, 17th August 2026: Infrastructure development is crucial to strengthening the foundation of India’s economic growth, and infrastructure projects must be planned with a long-term vision of 25 to 50 years rather than focusing only on present-day requirements, said, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways. Gadkari was speaking at the ‘Festival of Thinkers’ lecture series organized by Symbiosis International University.

The event was attended by Dr Vidya Yeravdekar, Principal Director, Symbiosis and Chancellor, Symbiosis International University (SIU), Dr Ramakrishnan Raman, Vice-Chancellor, SIU, Dr Rajiv Yeravdekar, Provost, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, SIU, Dr Shejul, Registrar, SIU.

Speaking at the event, Gadkari highlighted the strong interconnection between infrastructure, technology, research, employment generation and economic growth. He described ‘Knowledge to Wealth’ as a key pathway for future development and stressed the need to promote technology, research, innovation, entrepreneurship and skill development to convert knowledge into economic value.

Recalling the experience of developing the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Gadkari said the capacity of roads and highways must be determined by anticipating future traffic requirements. “Instead of relying on temporary solutions to address present-day problems, infrastructure development must be based on long-term and forward-looking planning,” he said.

He noted that robust infrastructure provides a significant boost to industry, trade, tourism and employment. Lower transportation costs would make Indian industries more competitive in global markets, while better road connectivity would provide farmers with improved access to markets, integrate rural areas with the mainstream economy and create new opportunities for industries and employment.

Gadkari also highlighted the growth of India’s automobile sector, attributing its expansion to technological advancement, research, electric vehicles, alternative fuels and biofuels. The sector, he said, has the potential to generate substantial employment while also contributing to India’s export growth.

Technology to enable predictive road maintenance

Emphasising the role of technology in infrastructure management, Gadkari said modern tools such as drones, artificial intelligence, LiDAR and satellite technology should be used to monitor road quality and identify potential defects before they become major problems.

He stressed the need to move from ‘repair after failure’ to ‘predict before failure’, enabling more efficient and preventive maintenance of road infrastructure.

Gadkari also underlined the importance of ‘Knowledge with Ethics’, saying that knowledge must be accompanied by integrity, reliability, quality and strong values. He urged young people to avoid shortcuts, noting that long-term success cannot be built on them.

He further stressed that the pace of development must be balanced with environmental protection and sustainable economic growth.

₹60,000 crore infrastructure projects planned for Pune-

Gadkari also spoke about Pune’s infrastructure development and said that projects worth approximately ₹60,000 crore are planned for the city in the coming period. Innovative financing models are being explored and adopted for implementing these projects, he said.

Dr Vidya Yeravdekar gave the welcome address Dr Ramakrishnan Raman proposed the vote of thanks.