Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari has stressed the need for strengthening infrastructural facilities to boost the pace of development of backward regions. <br/><br/>He was speaking at the foundation stone-laying ceremony of three ambitious road projects at Nandura in Buldhana district of Maharahtra on Saturday. <br/><br/>Mr. Gadkari announced that the work of National Highway passing through Malkapur-Buldhana-Chikhli-Aurangabad worth 1303 crore rupees would be started within six months. <br/><br/>In addition, the work relating to Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway would also be initiated soon with the help of the State Government and when completed the project would be effective in reduction of travel time by two to three hours, he added.