He said the government would continue taking stringent action against contractors and officials responsible for delays and substandard execution of infrastructure projects. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that he wants to set a record blacklisting contractors who do poor quality work and also suspend officials.

Gadkari said he had earlier expressed shame over the prolonged delay in widening the Mumbai-Goa Highway. He now plans to travel along the highway in October and personally review the work that has been completed.

He was speaking after inaugurating a six-lane elevated road corridor at Porvorim near Panaji. ‘Want to set record for blacklisting contractors, suspending officials’Gadkari said on Wednesday that he wanted to "set a record" by blacklisting the largest possible number of contractors and suspending officials found responsible for delays or poor-quality execution in infrastructure projects."

I had announced (earlier) that I would not come for the inauguration of the (widened) Mumbai-Goa highway because I felt ashamed that it had been delayed so much," he said. According to Gadkari, officials held a meeting on the issue on Tuesday."

I would land at the Mumbai airport in October, and travel by road to Goa to personally inspect the highway and assess whether the journey has been made convenient for travellers," he said. The minister said the government would continue taking stringent action against contractors and officials responsible for delays and substandard execution of infrastructure projects."

Now I want to set a record of blacklisting the maximum number of contractors and taking action against them, as well as suspending officials, within a year. I am not going to stop doing this now," he said.

Gadkari also called on the Goa government to develop roadside amenities along the Mumbai-Goa highway that reflect the state's distinctive architecture, cuisine and handicraft traditions. He said these facilities should offer visitors an opportunity to experience Goan food and purchase the state's handloom and handicraft products, giving tourists a distinctive experience as they travel through Goa.

Gadkari also proposed adding facilities for biofuels, electric vehicles and other alternative fuels alongside the petrol and diesel pumps operating on the route." If you make a request to me, I am ready to provide them to you," Gadkari said.