Gadkari urged common man to cooperate
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday called for deeper collaboration among BRICS countries to build sustainable, resilient, inclusive and future-ready transport systems, saying the collective strength of the grouping presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of global mobility through innovation, partnership and shared responsibility.
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways was addressing the 3rd BRICS Transport Ministers’ Meeting held in Nagpur under India’s BRICS Chairmanship.
Welcoming the transport ministers, heads of delegations and senior officials of the member countries, Gadkari said the meeting is an important step towards strengthening transport cooperation among the emerging economies.
India’s BRICS Chairmanship, guided by the theme ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Collaboration and Stability’, reflects a people-centric, humanity-first approach inspired by the timeless philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbkam’ or ‘the world is one family’, he said.
Calling for stronger BRICS cooperation, Gadkari said, “BRICS, representing almost half the world’s population, is uniquely positioned to lead the development of cleaner, safer, smarter and more efficient transportation systems while driving sustainable economic growth and regional connectivity.”
He stressed that common challenges related to infrastructure financing, congestion, emissions, road safety and last mile connectivity require collective solutions.
The Union Minister stressed India’s readiness to deepen cooperation through knowledge sharing, capacity building, technical cooperation and joint research in green hydrogen, electric mobility, alternative fuels, digital transportation systems and sustainable multimodal infrastructure.
Expressing confidence on the outcomes of the meeting, Gadkari said that the deliberations will further strengthen BRICS transport cooperation and contribute to practical, innovative and people-centric mobility solutions.
He called on BRICS countries to work together to promote inclusive growth, strengthen regional connectivity, protect the environment and build transportation systems that contribute to a more sustainable and prosperous future for all.
Emphasizing that transportation is the backbone of economic growth, Gadkari highlighted India’s rapid transformation in the road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors.
“India has developed the world’s second largest road network, significantly expanding access-controlled expressways and multimodal connectivity. The hybrid annuity model stands out as a successful framework for mobilizing private investment in infrastructure,” he said.
He said Indian Railways has achieved unprecedented modernization through almost complete electrification of the broad-gauge network, expansion of Vande Bharat services, progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor and landmark engineering achievements such as the new Pamban Bridge.
Gadkari described Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, digital initiatives including e-Navik and e-Samudra and green shipping initiatives as important steps towards strengthening maritime infrastructure and logistics efficiency.
The two-day meeting is being organized under the theme of India’s BRICS chairmanship ‘Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Stability’.
Representatives from member countries – Brazil, Russia, Indonesia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran and UAE will participate in discussions on sustainable transport, infrastructure, clean mobility, logistics flexibility and multimodal connectivity.
