Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said that India is indebted to former prime minister Manmohan Singh for the economic reforms. He added that the country needs a liberal economic policy with the goal of providing benefits to the poor.
He further said economic reforms started by Manmohan Singh during his tenure as finance minister in 1991 sent India in a new direction. His actions ushered in a liberal economy. Gadkari recalled that Signh's policies helped him raise money to build roads in Maharashtra in the mid-1990s. Nitin Gadkari was serving in the Maharashtra cabinet at the time.
He was speaking at the TIOL Awards 2022 event organised by the portal 'TaxIndiaOnline'.
The Minister for Road Transport & Highways observed that a liberal economic policy is for farmers and poor people. He also pointed out China to be a good example of a liberal economic policy helping the development of a country. He asserted that India needs more CapEx investment to accelerate economic growth.
Speaking about the construction of highways, the union minister said the NHAI is raising money from the common man. The ministry is constructing 26 green expressways and is not facing a shortage of money. "The toll revenue of NHAI will soar to Rs 1.40 lakh crore by the end of 2024 from Rs 40,000 crore per annum currently," he added.