Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has said that the government is working on a policy to make national highways potholes free by the end of this year. He said, his ministry is firming up performance-based maintenance and short-term maintenance contracts to ensure that the highways are pothole free. Talking to media persons in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari said, construction of roads on Built-Operate-Transfer (BOT) mode is being preferred as such projects are maintained in a better manner. The Minister said that rains can cause damage to highways resulting in potholes and the new policy will look into it.

Mr Gadkari said that there have been complaints about drainage issues along the national highways and a new policy is in the works to address that as well. He also informed that the government is also working on another national policy to use municipal waste in road construction. He said that consultation with all the stakeholders is underway. Mr Gadkari said waste is a huge problem for the country and if a policy like this will be implemented is a win-win situation for the country. The Minister said this policy will also help India to achieve the Prime Minister's vision of net zero by 2070. Mr Gadkari also informed about the green initiatives taken by the ministry during the 15 days of Swachhta Hi Seva Campaign launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.