Mumbai, July 11 (IANS) Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Saturday called for deeper cooperation among BRICS nations to build transport systems that are sustainable, resilient, inclusive and future‑ready.

Addressing the third ‘BRICS Transport Ministers’ Meeting’ under India’s BRICS Chairship, he said common challenges relating to infrastructure financing, congestion, emissions, road safety and last-mile connectivity require collective solutions.

The minister reaffirmed India’s readiness to deepen cooperation through knowledge sharing, capacity building, technological collaboration and joint research in green hydrogen, electric mobility, alternative fuels, digital transport systems and sustainable multimodal infrastructure, according to an official statement.

The collective strength of the grouping presents a unique opportunity to shape the future of global mobility through innovation, partnership and shared responsibility, he added.

Gadkari welcomed Transport Ministers, Heads of Delegation, senior officials and delegates from BRICS Member Countries to Nagpur and described the meeting as a significant step towards strengthening transport cooperation among emerging economies, the statement from Ministry of Road Transport & Highways said.

The minister added that India’s BRIC chairship guided by the theme, “Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability”, reflects a people‑centric, “Humanity First” approach inspired by the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam.

Gadkari highlighted India’s rapid transformation across road, rail, maritime and aviation sectors, citing the world’s second‑largest road network and expanded access‑controlled expressways.

He referred to the Delhi‑Dehradun Economic Corridor, the Sonamarg Tunnel and over 10,000 kilometres of Greenfield Expressways as examples of combining infrastructure development with environmental sustainability and technological innovation.

He also highlighted the Hybrid Annuity Model as a successful framework for mobilising private investment in infrastructure.

Gadkari said India’s railways have undergone unprecedented modernisation through near-complete electrification of the broad-gauge network, expansion of Vande Bharat services, progress on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High-Speed Rail Corridor and landmark engineering achievements such as the new Pamban Bridge.

The minister also highlighted the ‘Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047’, digital initiatives including e-Navik and e-Samudra, and the Green Shipping initiative as important steps towards strengthening maritime infrastructure and logistics efficiency.

—IANS

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