Nitin Gadkari
Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways since 2014
- Age
- 69 yrs
- Birthday in 212 days
- Works listed
- 0
- Career highlights
- Honours
- 0
- Awards & distinctions
- Profile views
- 0
- 0 followers
Nitin Gadkari is India’s Minister of Road Transport and Highways and one of the longest-serving ministers in the Modi government. A former BJP president from Nagpur, he is credited with a large expansion of the national highway network.
Biography
Early career
Gadkari grew up in Nagpur, took degrees in commerce and law from Nagpur University and was active in the ABVP. He was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Council in 1989 and remained a member for 25 years, serving as Leader of the Opposition in the council.
Maharashtra minister
As Public Works Minister in the Shiv Sena–BJP government from 1995 to 1999, Gadkari drove the construction of the Mumbai–Pune Expressway and more than 50 flyovers in Mumbai, earning a reputation for getting infrastructure built.
National role
In 2009 he became the youngest president of the BJP, serving until 2013. Elected to the Lok Sabha from Nagpur in 2014, he has been Minister of Road Transport and Highways ever since, also handling shipping, water resources and MSMEs at various times. The pace of highway construction rose sharply under his ministry, and he has championed electric vehicles, green hydrogen and ethanol blending.
Roads and transport
Under Gadkari, the pace of national highway construction rose from about 12 km a day in 2014 to over 30 km a day in later years, through programmes such as Bharatmala, new access-controlled expressways including the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, and the FASTag electronic toll system. He has championed alternative fuels — ethanol, green hydrogen and electric vehicles — and tougher road-safety laws through the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019.
Style
Gadkari is known for his blunt, often humorous speeches and for good relations across party lines, earning praise even from opposition leaders for delivering projects. Before politics he ran businesses in sugar, power and agriculture in Vidarbha.
Road builder
Gadkari first built his reputation as Maharashtra’s Public Works Minister from 1995 to 1999, when the state built the Mumbai–Pune Expressway, India’s first six-lane access-controlled expressway, and dozens of flyovers in Mumbai. As Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways since 2014, he has overseen a large expansion of national highways and expressways.
Timeline
-
1957
Born in Nagpur, Bombay State (now Maharashtra)
-
1989
Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council
Re-elected through 2014.
-
1995
Maharashtra Public Works Minister
Builds the Mumbai–Pune Expressway.
-
2009
BJP national president
Until January 2013.
-
2014
Road Transport and Highways Minister
Elected MP for Nagpur.
-
2017
Bharatmala Pariyojana approved
-
2019
Re-appointed; also MSME Minister
Until 2021 for MSMEs.
-
2019
Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act passed
-
2021
FASTag made mandatory on national highways
-
2024
Third term as highways minister
Re-elected from Nagpur.
Did you know?
-
1
He is often called India’s “Highway Man” or “Expressway Man”.
-
2
He has been highways minister continuously since 2014.
-
3
He drove a hydrogen-powered car to Parliament in 2022 to promote green fuels.
-
4
He has headed the highways ministry continuously since 2014.
-
5
He is famous for his outspoken and witty speeches.
Connections
Frequently asked
Who is Nitin Gadkari?
Nitin Gadkari is India’s Minister of Road Transport and Highways and one of the longest-serving ministers in the Modi government. A former BJP president from Nagpur, he is credited with a large expansion of the national highway network.
How old is Nitin Gadkari?
Nitin Gadkari is 69 years old, born on 27 May 1957 in Nagpur, Bombay State (now Maharashtra).
Where is Nitin Gadkari from?
Nitin Gadkari was born in Nagpur, Bombay State (now Maharashtra).
What is Nitin Gadkari known for?
Nitin Gadkari is best known for Rapid expansion of India’s national highways; the Mumbai–Pune Expressway.
Who is Nitin Gadkari married to?
Spouse: Kanchan Gadkari.
References
- Nitin Gadkari — Wikipedia. Wikipedia. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Nitin Gadkari — IMDb. IMDb. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Nitin Gadkari — Hindi Wikipedia. Wikipedia (Hindi). Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Official website. www.nitingadkari.org. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
- Nitin Gadkari (Q3504520) — structured data. Wikidata. Retrieved 26 October 2026.
External links
About this profile
- Researched by the TrackFame editors; reviewed by Sanjay Sokal
- First published 26 October 2026
- Last updated
Cite this page
“Nitin Gadkari.” TrackFame, last updated 26 October 2026. https://trackfame.com/person/nitin-gadkari
Discussion 0
Sign in or create an account to join the discussion.
No comments yet — be the first.
More in Politics & Leadership
Politics & Leadership
Subhas Chandra Bose
Freedom fighter and leader of the Indian National Army
1897 – 1945
Film & TV
J. Jayalalithaa
Six-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and actress
1948 – 2016
Politics & Leadership
Siddaramaiah
Two-time Chief Minister of Karnataka (2013–2018, 2023–2026)
Born 1947
Politics & Leadership
Vallabhbhai Patel
First Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister of India
1875 – 1950
Politics & Leadership
Nitish Kumar
Longest-serving Chief Minister of Bihar and president of the Janata Dal (United)
Born 1951
Politics & Leadership
Mahatma Gandhi
Leader of India’s independence movement and pioneer of non-violent resistance
1869 – 1948