Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday flagged traffic congestion as a growing crisis in Dehradun and proposed a London-like aerial double-decker bus system to decongest the city. 

Speaking at the 12th convocation ceremony of Graphic Era Deemed University, Gadkari said his recent road journey to Dehradun revealed the extent of the traffic problem, reported Amar Ujala.

“Every time I’ve come to Dehradun, I’ve used a helicopter or flight. This time, I came by road and realised how serious the traffic situation is,” Gadkari said, adding that university founder Dr. Kamal Ghanshala also raised the same concern. 

“I have a dream,” he continued, addressing Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, “If you send me a proposal, I will launch an aerial double-decker bus service in Dehradun.”

He explained that such a system could carry 125 to 150 passengers at a time and travel above ground. “Everything is possible—we only need to understand the problems clearly,” Gadkari remarked.

The minister also took aim at bureaucratic inertia, saying India has capable officers, but many fail to make decisions. “In our country, financial audits happen, but performance audits should too. Officers and staff who don’t perform should be shown the door,” he said, adding that accountability will directly improve India’s happiness index.

Gadkari emphasized that knowledge alone is insufficient without humanity and empathy. “True success lies in bringing happiness not only to oneself but also to one’s family, friends, and society. Knowledge without compassion is incomplete,” he told graduates.Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by our editors.

Photo by Lysa Malka Sheinina on Unsplash