As per various estimates, India currently has the world's second-largest road network, totalling to some 4.7 million km, transporting over 60 percent of all goods in the country and nearly 85 percent of passenger traffic. But the government itself says half of these are in poor shape.

This apart, highways account for only two percent of the total roads network but transport 40 percent of goods.

Speaking to IANS at his residence, a relaxed Gadkari, who till a few years ago headed the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), brushed aside criticisms that the targets that he had set for road construction in India were too ambitious. His predecessor in the previous government had also failed in meeting the targets.

"We were constructing around 12 km of roads per day as of March. Our target is to take it up to 14 km by the end of this month. Ultimately, the target is 30 km per month. This is what we will certainly achieve by May next year," the minister said.

"Our plan is to award around 15,000 km of roads during the current fiscal," he said, while pointing out that a major hurdle, which was arrangement of funding, has been removed recently by the cabinet, in a meeting presided over by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

READ ALSO:

10 Easy-To-Have Small Businesses