Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], April 14 (ANI): Union Minister of Road and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that India can become 'Vishwaguru' only after we build an international-standard infrastructure.

'If we want to develop our country, if we want to make our country a Vishwaguru, if we want to make our country the third largest economy in the world, if we want to make our country a five billion dollar economy which our Prime Minister wants to fulfill, the first requirement is to build international standard infrastructure in the country,' Gadkari said at 78th Vasant Vyakhyanmala organized by Amar Hind Mandal.

He further said that if India wants to make our country 'Vishwaguru, 'we have to import less, and exports should be increased, trying to bring logistics costs on a single digit.'

'Mumbai is also in the red zone and therefore, in the coming time, there is a need to work in Mumbai on both air and water pollution,' he added.

Gadkari further said that he has warned the contractor to not compromise with the quality.

'We never compromised with quality, I said the contractor will put you in prison or black-list. The quality must be excellent. There are no corruption allegations yet, all transparency. I won't talk much about the toll, but within 15 days, such a policy will come, You will not have any complaints about tolls, I am not talking about Maharashtra tolls, I am talking about national highways,' Gadkari said.

On April 10, Nitin Gadkari and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav laid the foundation stone and inaugurated 10 National Highway projects and related infrastructure construction works worth over Rs 5,800 crore for the state at a program held in Badnawar, Dhar district.

The Union Minister and the Chief Minister performed the bhoomi pujan, which included a 4-lane road on the Sandalpur-Nasrullaganj section, a 2-lane road with paved shoulder on the Chanderi-Pichor section, 7 flyovers and underpasses on the Indore-Gujarat section, 3 flyovers and underpasses in Shajapur, Kanasiya, and MIDC Industrial Area, and a flyover at Rasalpur Junction.

While addressing the event, Union Minister Gadkari said, 'Madhya Pradesh has a double-engine government and development is going at a fast pace here. With a vision to make everyone happy, prosperous and empowered, CM Yadav is rapidly taking the state forward on the path of development. Highways are not just roads; they are paths of progress that change the lives of people. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, we have brought about extensive changes in the infrastructure of the country in the last 10 years. The country has to be the third-largest economy in the world, and Madhya Pradesh will also participate in this. The zeal for development is visible in MP, so we will make it the biggest contributor to the development of the country.'

The Union Minister announced that they would make the national highway network in Madhya Pradesh better than that of America in the next three years. They would also complete the construction of national highways and other infrastructure worth over Rs 3,00,000 crore in the country in the next one year. (ANI)