Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Saturday emphasized that the government’s policies are focused on reducing poverty and generating employment, while warning against unchecked economic liberalisation that could result in wealth accumulation by a select few. Speaking at the National Conference of CA Students–2025, Gadkari stated, “Our aim is to establish an economic model that eliminates poverty, creates job opportunities for the youth, and generates wealth.” He stressed the need for inclusive growth and cautioned that while previous administrations under P. V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh followed liberalisation, safeguards must be in place to prevent the concentration of wealth and ensure balanced development.

He pointed out that over the past decade, India’s economic landscape has transformed significantly, and chartered accountants have a key role to play in this transformation. “CAs are no longer limited to just filing tax returns or GST submissions—they are becoming central drivers of economic growth,” he added. Gadkari also spoke about various sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, taxation, and public-private partnerships in infrastructure. Highlighting his contributions to the transport sector, he mentioned the introduction of the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model for road development, asserting that there is no shortage of funds for infrastructure projects. “We now collect nearly ₹55,000 crore annually from tolls, and within two years, this is expected to rise to ₹1.40 trillion. By monetising this revenue over 15 years, we could generate around ₹12 trillion,” he said.

He shared updates on regional connectivity efforts, citing a ₹5,000 crore ropeway project in Kedarnath where the contractor has agreed to pay ₹800 crore in royalty to the Centre. When the Uttarakhand government sought a share of the royalties, he responded that they should also be ready to share the losses, not just the profits.

Discussing investment strategies, Gadkari noted that he has raised funds through Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) bonds, avoiding foreign assistance. “We are financing road projects with funds raised domestically, especially from the common citizens. The value of our bond units has increased from ₹100 to ₹160, offering returns of around 18–20%,” he added.