Kolkata. Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari said that there is a need to boost economic growth in the country by bringing down the logistic cost. He said that the logistics cost in India is more than that of China, America and European countries, which needs to be reduced. He said that for this, waterways will have to be made a popular mode of transport of passengers and goods, which will reduce the import cost of petrol and diesel. Right now it is Rs 16 lakh crore annually.
Speaking at an event organized by Young Indians and Institute of Chartered Accountants, Gadkari said that our first priority is waterways, second railways, third roads and last air routes. The reduction in logistics cost will help in employment generation in the country. He said that the logistics cost in India is 16 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and it is very high. It is ten percent in China and eight percent in America and Europe. He said that there is a need to connect rail and road transport with waterways.
Gadkari said that more sustainable fuels like bio-diesel, bio-CNG will have to be used. He emphasized on more cultivation of sugarcane and bamboo to produce cheaper fuels like ethanol and bio-ethanol. He said that this will also prevent pollution. (Language)
