Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has called for an accelerated pace of project implementation and robust job creation in Maharashtra’s Vidarbha region, stressing that the key to India’s growth lies in efficient execution, not financial constraints.
Speaking at an event organized by the Association of Industry Development in Nagpur on Saturday, Gadkari said India has no shortage of funds for development — the real challenge is finding capable individuals and institutions to turn ideas into action.
“I am a person who has ₹15 lakh crore rupees lying unused. The problem is not money; the problem is a lack of people who can get the work done,” Gadkari remarked candidly. He noted that the market is flush with liquidity and that investors are eager to back viable projects, but bureaucratic delays and poor planning continue to hinder progress.
Setting an ambitious target for the next five years, the minister urged industrialists and entrepreneurs in Vidarbha to generate five lakh new jobs through innovation, investment, and skill-based industries. “Once you start working, you’ll realise the potential this region has—so many opportunities will open up that you won’t be able to fill them all,” Gadkari said, highlighting Vidarbha’s untapped potential in sectors such as logistics, agriculture-based industries, and renewable energy.
He also emphasized that Vidarbha’s growth would have a ripple effect on Maharashtra and the nation as a whole. “When we contribute to Vidarbha’s economic growth, the entire state and country benefit,” Gadkari stated.
Recalling his earlier initiatives, the minister cited the Multi-modal International Hub Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN) as a successful model of development that transformed regional infrastructure and employment prospects. “When MIHAN was under development, some people opposed it. At that time, I promised that one lakh jobs would be created—and today, that promise has been fulfilled,” Gadkari said proudly.
Concluding his address, the Union Minister reiterated that determination, efficient management, and partnership between government and industry could make Vidarbha a leading hub of employment and industrial activity. “We have the vision, the resources, and the capacity. What we need now is fast execution and collective will,” he asserted.
