Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced that ₹800 crore will be allocated for the development of the Belagavi bypass road and additional funds will be provided for the improvement of the Goa-Hyderabad road.
He made this announcement during a public event on Friday, which honored Prabhakar Kore, chairman of the KLE Society, and his wife Ashatai, as well as marked the inauguration of new MBA and MCA buildings at Vidyavardhak Mandal in Nippani, Belagavi district.
Starting his address with greetings in Kannada, Mr. Gadkari emphasized the government’s goal of ensuring happiness across the nation through enhanced economic growth, access to potable water, quality education and healthcare facilities, and job opportunities.
He highlighted the economic transformation in the region due to sugarcane farming, stressing the need for initiatives aimed at farmers’ welfare. Although the agricultural sector is significant, it only contributes 14% to the country’s GDP. He noted that during Gandhi’s freedom struggle, 70% of the population lived in rural areas, whereas today, only 30% remain in these regions as many have migrated to larger cities.
Mr. Gadkari pointed out that education and healthcare facilities in rural areas lag behind, asserting that development and self-reliance cannot be achieved without improving these essential services.
Regarding the use of ethanol as an alternative fuel, he stated that it can now be produced from wheat and maize in addition to sugarcane. “In the near future, all vehicles will run on ethanol, which costs ₹25 per litre. Instead of petrol stations, ethanol stations will be established. With the production of ethanol from maize, farmers are receiving better prices for their crops. Our focus is on farmers’ welfare, as their prosperity will drive progress in all sectors,” he added.
Mr. Gadkari encouraged Mr. Kore to establish more educational institutions to support regional development, asserting that education is vital for adapting new knowledge and driving economic advancement.
Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Pralhad Joshi, praised Mr. Gadkari’s contributions to rural road infrastructure through the ‘Gram Sadak Yojna’ and his broader impact on infrastructure development nationwide. He noted that the adoption of ethanol as an alternative fuel could save ₹1,99,000 crore in foreign exchange annually in the coming years.
Minister for Public Works, Satish Jarkiholi, stated that Mr. Gadkari and other Union Ministers had been requested to prioritize road and railway projects within the state.
In response to the honor, Mr. Kore referred to Nippani as his ‘Karma Bhoomi’ (workplace) and shared how an educational revolution was initiated in the Nippani region by Chandrakanth Kothiwale. He also announced that a new KLE society college would soon open in Mumbai.
