On some of the 600 locations where it is developing wayside amenities along the national highways, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said on Saturday that the government is planning to install helipads and drone landing facilities.
Gadkari said at an Indian Merchants Chamber event in the city that these facilities would be helpful in handling medical emergencies including traffic accidents and organ transplants.
The Minister for Road Transport and Highways reportedly said in an official statement that NHAI is creating world-class “Wayside Amenities (WSA)” at more than 600 spots along the National Highways.
According to him, these roadside amenities would include trauma centres in addition to basic amenities like clean restrooms, parking, and eateries, such as hotels for truck drivers.
The minister said that some of the WSAs would also feature helipads and drone landing facilities to cope with medical emergencies like road accidents and organ transplants. There will also be retail stores for promoting handicrafts and locally created goods.
“PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) is a very big initiative and it will help us reduce logistics costs,” Gadkari said.
He pointed out that the cost of logistics in India is greater at 13–14% of GDP as opposed to 8–9% in other industrialised nations like the US.
The competitiveness of 'Made in India' items on international markets is decreased by higher transport costs. The minister stressed that the government's primary priority is to reduce logistics costs to 9% of GDP.
A strong, stable, steadfast, and transparent administration, according to Gadkari, is essential for the nation to reach its goal of having a $5 trillion GDP by 2025.
