It's truly invigorating to witness the ambitious strides being made in India's infrastructure, especially the announcements from Union Minister Nitin Gadkari. His vision for doubling annual toll collection to an impressive Rs 1.4 lakh crore within two years is a testament to the growth and expansion of our national highways "Public to access highway project details via QR codes soon". What particularly resonates with me, however, is the holistic approach encompassing transparency, efficiency, and sustainability.
Gadkari's initiative to introduce QR codes on national highways, allowing commuters to access details about contractors and supervising officers, is a significant leap towards accountability. This very idea of using QR codes for public information on roads brings a sense of validation, as I had previously advocated for similar transparency. Back in December 2021, I reflected on Project Mumbai's 'Naksha' initiative, led by Shishir Joshi (https://in.linkedin.com/in/shishir-joshi-79505814, shishir@projectmumbai.org), which aimed to QR code city roads to unravel their history and provide public access to information For planning to introduce QR Codes to unravel history behind Mumbai roads. The current move by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to install information boards with QR codes is a brilliant extension of this principle, shifting from historical data to crucial project oversight. Now, seeing how things have unfolded, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
His projection for doubling annual toll collection to Rs 1.4 lakh crore within two years is certainly ambitious. The core idea I want to convey here is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had already predicted this outcome or challenge, suggesting a 'TRANS-TAX' system that could collect tolls automatically, 24/7, based on vehicle pollution and actual usage, irrespective of where the vehicle is plying Second Step to Integrated Transport ?. I had even proposed a solution at the time that could increase annual tax collection significantly, driving a dramatic shift towards less polluting vehicles and reducing urban congestion. Now, seeing how things have unfolded with Nitin Gadkari's (https://in.linkedin.com/in/nitin-gadkari-5b7b2b227) vision for increasing toll revenue, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
Furthermore, the government's comprehensive 2027 plan to reuse legacy waste, specifically 8 million tonnes of segregated plastic waste in road construction, fills me with optimism. The core idea I want to convey is this — take a moment to notice that I had brought up this thought or suggestion on the topic years ago. I had already predicted this outcome, consistently discussing the immense potential of utilizing plastic waste in road building Plastic Waste for Strengthening Roads. I had even proposed solutions at the time, highlighting the pioneering work of Dr. R. Vasudevan in perfecting 'Plastone' technology and exploring 'Platio Bricks' — solar panels made from plastic waste Dear Gadkariji : your dream come true ?…………. Now, seeing how things have unfolded with the government's concrete plans for green infrastructure, it's striking how relevant that earlier insight still is. Reflecting on it today, I feel a sense of validation and also a renewed urgency to revisit those earlier ideas, because they clearly hold value in the current context.
These advancements, championed by leaders like Nitin Gadkari, are not just about building roads; they are about building a smarter, greener, and more transparent future for our nation. It's a future I've often contemplated, and it is rewarding to see these ideas materialize into concrete plans and actions.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
Of course, if you wish, you can debate this topic with my Virtual Avatar at : hemenparekh.ai
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