Udupi: More research will reduce the cost and improve efficiency. More effective research will lead to innovation, said Sri Nithin Gadkari, Union Minister for Roads, Highways, Shipping and Transport.

He was speaking at the 22nd Leadership lecture on Education on Development organized by T.A.Pai Management Institute of Manipal (TAPMI) at Hotel Fortune in Valley View on Monday, 28th March, 2016. He praised the Manipal University and said that Knowledge is important and should be converted into wealth. The research on infrastructure is vital and should be scope for innovation, research and entrepreneurship.

He said the lack of vision is the most important. Whenever we going to buy household materials like T.V. etc, there will be scope for the installments during the payment. Likewise, for the establishment of roads and highways we should also get installments like payment. We should raise the capital market in regard to the establishment of roads and highways. At the time of establishment of Mumbai Poona Express Highway we have budget of Rs. 10 crore budget. People and media persons asked me how can we start the highway and so on. Where there is a will, there is a way. If there is no way, then it will happened surveys, meetings and seminars. Banks not ready to give us finance. Administrators should have the quality of perfection on country and society. The capital market was effectively utilized to help finance. He said the great entrepreneurs like Ratan Tata and others appreciated me and said you are more professional than me.

He said one should appreciate when the team of entrepreneurship excels, then that may be get confidence to the success.

There will be scope for innovation in transport sector. The waste management can use bio diesel, bil CNG. We can run 50,000 buses in Methanol. I am an Agriculturist. Presently, Sugar Industries are in trouble. I am looking for use of Methanol. I visited London and saw electric run vehicle. I told to ISRO scientists of India to prepare battery. Within six months electric battery was ready. The cost of the battery in London Rs. 50 lakhs, but here in India the cost similar to that battery will be only Rs. 5 lakhs. I am trying to prepare vehicle similarly for members of Parliament shortly.

Asking to the question by the students, he said there are lots of opportunities in construction of roads. The civil engineering students and diploma students can join the companies with construction of roads. We are planning to outsource preparation of detailed project report to students as well. He said that students would be confident and then will students excel.

He compared the road and sea transport. He said that the cost of transport in railways one rupee for one kilometer, the cost of road transport will be Rs 1.50 and the cost of sea transport will be hardly 20 to 22 paise. We are looking for development of sea transport to reduce the cost of transport for the people of the country. Meanwhile, like the development of highways, sea transport facilities will also be increased meantime.

All over, we need dynamic leadership. We have huge potential to do any kind of projects. Leadership who understand management can do the success.

TAPMI president Dr. Ramdas Pai felicitated Shri Nithin Gadkari and presented a memento. Trustee Dr. Ranjan Pai was present on the dais. Director Dr. R. C. Natarajan welcomed the gathering and Vinod Madhavan compered the programme. Prior to the lecture, the occasion was inaugurated by lighting the lamp by the guests on the dais.