The government plans to develop helipads and drone landing facilities along the national highways (NHs) to tackle emergencies, minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari said on April 29, 2023.
He said the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is developing Wayside Amenities (WSA) at more than 600 locations along the national highways. These include helipad and drone facilities to assist in dealing with medical emergencies such as car accidents and organ transplants.
The amenities along the national highways include:
- Parking
- Restaurants
- Toilets
- Dormitories for truck drivers
- Charging facilities for electric vehicles
- Trauma centres
- Retail outlets to promote handicrafts and local products
Several other facilities would be available to ease road travel for commuters, including fuel stations, bank ATMs and medical clinics. These amenities would be set up every 40-60 km of the existing and upcoming national highways and expressways.
Further, the WSA will provide opportunities for investors, developers, operators and retailers. All the upcoming highway projects would have such provisions. This will also boost the local economy and create jobs for the locals. The NHAI is in the process of awarding 150 wayside amenities for the FY 2023-24.
Gadkari said that the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan would aid in decreasing logistics expenses. The logistics expenses in India are higher at 13-14% of GDP than in other developed nations such as the US, where they are between 8-9%, he added. He further said that reducing logistics costs to 9% of GDP is at the top of the government’s agenda.
See also: What is PM Gati Shakti programme?
Harini is a content management professional with over 12 years of experience. She has contributed articles for various domains, including real estate, finance, health and travel insurance and e-governance. She has in-depth experience in writing well-researched articles on property trends, infrastructure, taxation, real estate projects and related topics. A Bachelor of Science with Honours in Physics, Harini prefers reading motivational books and keeping abreast of the latest developments in the real estate sector.
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