Nitin Gadkari defends Mumbai-Pune Expressway, urges tech monitoring

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Monday defended the Mumbai-Pune Expressway as pothole-free after 27 years and called for technology-driven monitoring to detect road defects early. Speaking at the 'Festival of Thinkers' organised by Symbiosis International University in Pune, Gadkari said he was trolled on social media after a recent collapse at the Missing Link, which he described as a state government project. He said modern tools like drones, AI, LiDAR and satellite technology should be used for road surveillance.

Gadkari said infrastructure must be planned with a 25 to 50 year vision, linked to economic growth and job creation. He noted that projects worth around Rs 60,000 crore are planned for Pune. He also recalled that the forest department had not granted permission for the Missing Link at the time of its construction. In May, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the 13.3 km Missing Link project, which was hit by a landslide in July after heavy rain.

Gadkari stressed the need for long-term planning, citing his construction of an eight-lane expressway and later a 40-lane road between Delhi and Meerut. He said better connectivity reduces transportation costs, boosts industry and helps farmers access wider markets. He also emphasised balancing development with environmental protection and sustainable growth.