The Union Transport Minister Mr. Nitin Gadkari has said in Kolkata today that, the government has decided to develop three major inland ports at Varanasi of UP, Sahebganj of Jharkhand and Haldia of West Bengal to accord highest priority to the development of Inland Waterways in the country as it has the lowest cost of transportation. He was addressing a special session on 'Enhancing Connectivity across Eastern India – Key to Economic Growth' organized by the MCC Chamber of Commerce and Industry. <br/><br/><br/>Land acquisition for all the three ports has already been completed, he added. Referring to the growth of road network, the Minister revealed that the rate of road construction which was only 2 Kilometres per day when the present government came to power, has increased to 18 Kilometres per day at present.<br/><br/> In this connection he informed that express highways will be constructed to speed up passenger as well as goods transportation. Mr. Gadkari stated that three more parts are to come up in the country of which one will be built up in Sagar of West Bengal. <br/><br/>Later the Minster inaugurated development initiatives of Kolkata Port Trust at Haldia Dock Complex and Kolkata Dock system through Video conferencing. These initiatives include fly-ash handing jetty at Haldia Dock Complex, and refurbished Cession at Lock Entrance of Haldia Dock.<br/><br/>Earlier, addressing AGM of Bharat Chamber of Commerce in Kolkata, MR. Gadkari said that, waterways is economically a more viable means of transportation and an excellent areas for capital investment in enhancing tourism, goods and passenger transportation. He spoke in length on the future of road transport and waterways.<br/><br/> He said, in the next five years the contribution of highways and shipping sector to national GDP would rise to two percent from current insignificant level. With poised growth, the roads, highways and shipping sectors would be able to create nearly 50 lakh employment opportunities.