Union Minister for Surface Transport Nitin Gadkari said that the self-reliant India will be composed of smart villages and smart cities. He described Jabalpur as the growth engine of Madhya Pradesh saying that it is an important tourist point of view. Jabalpur is known in education sector. The government is working for the construction of roads and bridges along with socio- cultural and economic development in Jabalpur.

Gadkari was addressing the foundation stone laying and inauguration ceremonies for various National Highway projects at the Veterinary College Ground in Jabalpur.

Union Minister Gadkari said that construction of roads leads to development of industries, promotes tourism, agricultural exports and thus roads become the axis of development.

Union Minister Gadkari said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of building India self-reliant, it is emerging as the world's third largest economy. The aim to create 5 trillion economy is directly proportionate to the development of villages and farmers. Union Minister Gadkari said that during the construction of National Highway and Ring Road, water storage tanks and ponds can be built in place of the soil and mud dug. This will ensure water conservation and also provide water to the farmers for irrigation. If 75% of land in every village is irrigated, then farmers and villages will become prosperous and their income will increase.

Union Minister Gadkari said that the farmers of Madhya Pradesh have potential to be energy provider by taking up manufacturing of green hydrogen, bio aviation fuel, bio CNG and bio LNG. Agriculturally produced biomass into energy crops. Giving the example of Indian Oil's bitumen plant in Panipat, Gadkari said that 1 lakh liters of ethanol, 1.5 tonnes of bitumen and 75 thousand tonnes of aviation fuel are produced in the state. This product can be used as aviation fuel. It has been called sustainable aviation fuel. Two years ago, on January 26 event, bio fuel was used in fighter jets and helicopters.

Gadkari said that methanol is made from coal. The experiment of running 25 buses in Bengaluru by mixing 15% methanol in diesel has been successful. Abundant reserves of coal are available in Madhya Pradesh. The rate of methanol is Rs 22 per liter and that of diesel is Rs 93 per liter. In this way, methanol is a cheaper fuel than diesel. Use machines and trucks running on methanol in coal mines.

All these things will reduce the import of fossil fuels. Pollution caused by use of diesel and petrol will reduce. Madhya Pradesh has the potential to conduct such experiments and be a leader in this sector. The farmers of the country will produce energy for the country, which will become an an energy exporter.

Agricultural products including crops and fruits are produced in abundance in Madhya Pradesh. Pre-cooling plant, cold storage and logistics park etc. can be developed on government land adjacent to the National Highway and Ring Road. With this, the vegetables, fruits and other products of the state will reach other countries of the world.

With this, farmers will get the right price for their crops and the area will develop. Union Minister Gadkari also assured all possible help from his ministry in the development of the state.

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the roads of the state are increasing the prestige. In past roads had potholes, but a new chapter has been added to surface connectivity. Till 2013-14, there were only about one thousand kilometers of roads, which have increased to 1 lakh 61 thousand kilometers in 10 years.