Senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari has taken charge as the Minister of Road Transport and Highways for the third consecutive term after Narendra Modi-led NDA formed government again in 2024. Gadkari, popularly referred to as the ‘Highway Man of India’, is credited with the construction of more than 54,858 km of national highways in the country in the last 10 years. The 67-year-old leader from Nagpur in Maharashtra has been the longest serving road transport & highways minister. Under his leadership, the road ministry aims to complete the construction of 1,386-km Delhi-Mumbai Express by December this year. As the Minister for Road Transport and Highways, he has been at the forefront of initiatives promoting the use of electric vehicles and renewable energy sources. His emphasis on reducing pollution and finding sustainable solutions aligns with the global shift towards a greener future. Gadkari’s ministry has prioritised development of the Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Delhi-Meerut Expressway and Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway. It has also got the nod for the Bharat Mala project that aims to develop 5,500 km of new roads along the country’s international borders and coastal areas. Another 6,000 km of roads to connect religious and tourism centres in mountainous terrain are expected to come up, while national highways will be developed to connect district headquarters in the country. Gadkari's political career began in his college days when he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). As a member of the BJP, Gadkari has held several significant positions. He served as the President of the Maharashtra BJP from 2004 to 2009 and played a crucial role in the party's electoral success in the state. Under his leadership, the party made significant gains in the 2004 and 2009 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly elections. One of Gadkari's notable achievements was his tenure as the Minister for Public Works in the Government of Maharashtra from 1995 to 1999. During this time, he introduced several infrastructure development projects, including the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which revolutionized connectivity between the two major cities. When he became BJP president, he was his party’s youngest chief. Proud of his RSS links, he spoke out against attacks on churches and minority institutions and reassured them that the government would not protect anyone trying to target minorities. At the same time, he criticised the Opposition for “running a campaign to show that the BJP was against minorities”. The imposition of emergency by Indira Gandhi in June 1975 was a turning point in his life, following which he decided todedicate his life to social work rather than practicising law. Gadkari studied M.Com, LLB and diploma in business management. As a PWD Minister between 1995 and 1999, he gained first experience to undertake infrastructure projects. Married to Kanchan Gadkari, they have three children. He won the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections on BJP's ticket and will be looking to secure a hat-trick, after being announced as the BJP candidate for the Nagpur Lok Sabha constituency once again in 2024.