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possible to provide employment through micro industries to a few crores
of people every year. The experience in Gujarat is that loans given under
such schemes are usually repaid, with interest.
Rapid growth in infrastructure
In the last seven years since Gadkari took over the infrastructure
department, the work has gained momentum. Construction of roads,
new railways, ports, roads, railways connecting the ports, construction
of airports, effective use of waterways have all gained momentum.
Statistically speaking, these infrastructure facilities are being built at 25
times the earlier pace before the Modi government came to power(Prof.
Ashok Soman,2016). An excellent network of national highways is being
built across the country. The speed of freight has increased more than
four times due to the availability of separate passenger and freight routes
to the railways. Shipping is cheaper than any other route. As a result,
transportation costs are reduced. If the goods are to be transported over
long distances, it is becoming faster and more economical to transport
the goods by loaded trucks with the help of railway crates than by sending
goods by roadways. The capital required for the construction of this
infrastructure is obtained from the international market. The capital is
available at an interest rate of less than 3%. It is definitely beneficial to
repay this loan once the road, railways or similar infrastructure is available.
Many projects within the country are being run on a build, operate and
transfer principle. The duration of each of these projects is fixed. If it
takes more time than that, the contractor is penalized and if the project is
completed in less time than, bonus is given to that contractor. There is no
compromise on the quality of work. Otherwise the contractor will have
to face very severe penalties. Millions of people have found employment
today due to the rapid growth of this type of infrastructure. With the
construction of infrastructure, naturally, many industries coming in
and out of the country get a favorable environment. The heavy industry
sector has given them huge concessions to bring such big industries to
the country.
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