Students on Nagpur trip meet Nitin Gadkari
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, February 22 2023:
In all, 30 student delegates from Manipur and three faculty coordinators of Indian Institute of Information Technology (HIT), Manipur along representatives of host HIT, Nagpur met Union Minister of Road and Transport Nitin Gadkari at Radisson Blu Hotel, Nagpur on Tuesday.
The Manipuri students are touring Nagpur as a part of the EBSB Yuva Sangam programme.
The union minister and the student delegates shared information about their respective states, exchanged views on significance of multi-cultural experience and the current development programmes implemented in their respective states.
Nitin Gadkari expressed his special interest in Manipur as well as other parts of the North-East and recalled his frequent visits to Manipur and that he is aware about the problems faced by Manipur in development of highways, including issues related to land acquisition.
The minister also deliberated on topics including future plans for improved road connectivity in Manipur, construction of elevated roads in Imphal to decongest the traffic and development of inland water transport systems.
Emphasising on the importance of road transport in economic development, he quoted former US President John F Kennedy as saying that "American roads are not good because America is rich, but America is rich because American roads are good" .
Gadkari also talked about the upcoming logistic centre at border town Moreh which will help improve border trade with Myanmar and increase to exports, develop the economy and create employment opportunities in the region.
He further emphasised on the importance of region-oriented research involving locally available agricultural products to solve certain economic problems in Manipur.
He talked about the importance of knowledge to wealth conversion and the importance of entrepreneur ship.
When a student delegate asked about development of local roads in Manipur, the union minister advised the students to approach the local authorities to ensure proper implementation of the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
At the end of the session, the minister presented his book, "Unmasking India" as a gift to the Manipur team and wished them the best.
Mention may be made that Chief Minister N Biren, in the presence of Union minister of state Dr RK Ranjan Singh, Education minister Th Basanta Kumar Singh and the Director of HIT Manipur professor Krishnan Baskar had flagged off the "Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat (EBSB)" Yuva Sangam tour of the Manipuri students' team to Nagpur Maharashtra on Monday at Chief Minister's Secretariats.
The team had landed at Nagpur airport at midnight.
Despite the late hour, the HIT Nagpur team including the director and hundreds of youth volunteers gave a warm welcome with the local MLA at Nagpur Airport.
The host institute HIT Nagpur has arranged a 5 day fully packed and exciting schedule for the Manipuri students to experience the culture of Maharashtra.