Young talent and start-ups taking our country towards becoming Atmanirbhar-Nitin Gadkari

Aurangabad, Jan 15:

"Marathwada has a lot of potential and an institution like MAGIC supporting young talent and start-ups and giving them a vision for development is worth appreciation. This is the grassroots work that we need in making our country Atmanirbhar" said union minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Nitin Gadkari while addressing a virtual inauguration ceremony of Atmanirbhar Bharat Innovation Challenge 2020-21 on Friday. Innovation Challenge is a flagship initiative of Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Council (MAGIC).

Speaking further Gadkari said, Marathwada has a lot of automobile companies. We have recently submitted a scrapping policy to get cost-effective recycled raw material that can be again used to make low priced components for the automobile sector. This will reduce the cost of the automobiles. We have also planned to make vehicles that run on ethanol, methanol, biodiesel, CNG, electricity and hydrogen fuel. In Nagpur, we have converted city buses to run on Bio-CNG. Even my tractor runs on Bio-CNG. It reduces fuel cost by 60 per cent and is also a good alternative for fuel. Even sewage water emitting from the city can be sold to the state government for power generation. It can happen in Marathwada, and can become a growth engine for the country. CMIA president Kamlesh Dhoot, Director MAGIC Ashish Garde, Riteish Mishra, Prasad Kokil, vice president Shiv Prasad Jaju, Vivek Deshpande and other entrepreneurs were present on this occasion.

Jalna dry port to reduce logistic cost

Gadkari said the sea distance from Aurangabad is very high. Hence we have planned for Jalna dry port. This will reduce the cost of logistics. Upgrading technology, reducing power and labour cost will be more economically feasible for industries.

Amphibious aircraft for tourists destination

Gadkari said, we are making good roads connecting historic places. Also, seaplane service must be started for sites like Ajanta and Ellora using water bodies located near the sites. This service can also connect cities like Mumbai, Shirdi, Solapur and Latur to Aurangabad. Tourism associations must consider starting this service.

Appriciate young entreprenuers

Marathwada has a lot of talent. Young entrepreneurs here are doing excellent innovation work. However, start-ups must do something in the agriculture sector to increase productivity, organic farming, food processing, handloom, solar charkha and bamboo products. Village industry can also be developed in Marathwada.