Nitin Gadkari Highlights Need of Agriculture Diversification into Energy and Power Sectors

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari urged Uttar Pradesh to take the lead in producing hydrogen to move India toward becoming an energy-exporting nation, emphasizing the importance of diversifying agriculture into energy and electricity industries. The minister also lauded Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his efforts in changing Uttar Pradesh, previously referred to as a 'bimaru pradesh,' into a state centered on growth and prosperity.

During the joint inauguration of two national highway projects worth over Rs 3,300 crores in Lucknow, Nitin Gadkari expressed his belief that diversifying agriculture would enhance the prosperity of farmers in the state. Acknowledging the Narendra Modi government's commitment to uplifting farmers, he highlighted the positive impact of their policies aimed at transforming the agricultural landscape.

Minister Gadkari asserted that the future of the farmers lies in diversification towards the energy and power sector. He pointed out that Uttar Pradesh, having a significant number of sugarcane farmers, possesses immense potential to contribute to this transformation.

The two inaugurated projects include a four-lane elevated corridor at Madiaon IIM crossing on the Lucknow-Sitapur section and the four-lane widening of Naviganj to Mitrasenpur on the Aligarh-Kanpur section. The occasion also saw the inauguration and foundation laying of a total of 164 development schemes amounting to Rs 475 crores.

Addressing the gathering, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh lauded the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in scripting a new success story for Lucknow and Uttar Pradesh. Highlighting the state's remarkable transformation, Minister Gadkari emphasized the importance of robust infrastructure to achieve the vision of a prosperous and powerful India. He praised Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for his unwavering commitment to law and order, which has garnered appreciation from citizens across the country.

Nitin Gadkari expressed his delight over Uttar Pradesh's advancements in the ethanol sector and revealed that there are plans to further leverage this resource. He asserted that ethanol is just the beginning and stated that the future lies in adopting methanol, bio CNG, electric, and hydrogen as alternative energy sources.

Laying out a roadmap for the future, Gadkari highlighted the significance of hydrogen production and urged Uttar Pradesh to play a leading role in its development. He stated that if they harness hydrogen as an energy source, their energy-importing nation will evolve into an energy-exporting one.

To enhance the livelihoods of farmers, the minister proposed making them not only food providers but also energy providers. He revealed plans to transform farmers into "bitumen-daata," who contribute to the production of bitumen required for road construction.