Nine months into his term as road transport, highways and shipping minister, Nitin Gadkari is brimming with ideas — from generating innovative ways of funding highways and using rotten vegetables, sewage water and algae to create bio fuel to offering advice to Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on how to produce cheaper power.Confident that the upcoming budget will offer incentives for the infrastructure sector, Gadkari toldin New Delhi on Wednesday that he would accomplish in five years what has not been done in the past 25. Edited excerpts:When I took charge of my department, around Rs 3,80,000 crore worth of projects were stuck due to forest and environment clearance, land acquisition problems, rail bridges clearance etc. We were facing very serious problems. For instance, at the Delhi-Jaipur highway only 22 of the 74 flyovers were made. Contractors had left. We then called the banks and studied each and every project. Bankers lent the money to contractors through us.Now there are 56 flyovers on the stretch. We have cleared 80 projects worth Rs 1,40,000 crore. There are around 40 projects which we have terminated involving several big companies. Around 26-40 projects still remain where we are yet to figure out a solution with cabinet and finance minister’s approval. We have moved a cabinet note and we should be able to clear around 20-25 projects. We will consult the Prime Minister and finance minister to find out a solution for the remaining projects. I can tell you that in three months I will have zero percent problems.By and large, the sector is in better shape now. When I started, we were averaging 2 km per day of road construction. By March 2015, it would be up to 15 km per day and in the next two years we will achieve the 30 km per day target. This year we targeted award of 7,000 km of roads. We should be able to achieve up to 8,000 km, which was my target by March.My work does not get impacted by budget. I do depend on the budget but even if it gets doubled from Rs 27,000 crore to Rs 40,000 crore, I still have to do Rs 5 lakh crore worth of projects. My model is to get capital investment from different sources. Firstly, for projects in PPP (public private partnerships), we have figured a solution in the hybrid annuity model where 40 per cent investment will come from us and the remaining 60 per cent will come from the private developer. The risk will be ours in terms of annuity payment and traffic density. We will do a tripartite agreement with the banks. We can do around Rs 50,000 crore of projects through this route.There are a few more models we are working on, some are awaiting approval from cabinet and the finance ministry. We haveRs 10,000 crore toll income in NHAI which will go up to Rs 2 lakh crore in the coming 15 years. I can securitise this income in any bank and get up to Rs 1,40,000 crore.There are projects over Rs 2 lakh crore which are viable on PPP model and have good internal rate of return. Fourthly, NHAI (National Highways Authority of India) is allowed to raise infrastructure bonds up to Rs 50,000 crore in the Indian market. We have shown our intention to use pension funds for infrastructure. We are also working on a new model at the departmental level. The 12 major ports and the Shipping Corporation of India can use their dollar-denominated earning, which is around Rs 3 lakh crore. We have consulted banks and retired officers of RBI to start an instrument for our shipping, inland waterways and roads to raise dollar loans. It will not require any hedging and the interest rate will be much cheaper. At a global level, big capital investment companies, pension funds, two of them, have sought a meeting with me to discuss investment opportunities in India.For infrastructure bonds, we have to return the amount we raise. If we fall short, then there are new projects, 14,000 km ongoing projects, from which we will earn more toll. This is a continuous process. We still haven’t raised bonds to the optimal level. Our priority is to bring down the cost of construction. We are contracting rates for cement.We had 38 bidders with 79 cement factories. The lowest we have got is Rs 120 per bag without tax. The market rate is Rs 350 per bag.Cement is indigenous and bitumen is imported. Cement roads don’t require any maintenance for 50 years. It is cheaper than bitumen by 10-12 per cent. We are also trying to use oil slag in road construction. We have plenty of oil slag. I am also trying to bring a road code. We also want to put optic fibre cable, transmission lines, gas pipeline alongside the roads.From Delhi to Gurgaon we want to bring a ropeway system with a capital cost of Rs 40-50 crore. It can carry five people at a time. People from Nasa, New Zealand and Israel are investing in this venture. Advertising is also another area we are trying to address with IRC (Indian Roads Congress). We now have etolling with ICICI and Axis Bank. It will give us revenue of Rs 50 crore.We are talking about e-tolling, securitization of toll earnings on one hand and detolling on the other...We are not thinking of removing the toll altogether. There is a thought process to bring an e-governance, computerize toll collection. Now we have to see what to do with the existing toll policy. But I am thinking of a way that will benefit maximum number of people. We will take a decision on this and consult cabinet very soon.Budget is finance ministry’s prerogative, not mine. We are changing the Motor Vehicle Act and we will bring the bill in the budget session. We are saying that exempt the use of green fuel from all taxes so that electric bus, bio-diesel, ethanol can run our transport. We not only have to make Swacch Bharat but also Pradooshan Mukt (pollution free) Bharat.States like Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Maharashtra have surplus ethanol and it is cheaper than diesel. We have invited technology to move our existing city and state transport to electricity. For instance, we have promoted e-rickshaws. We are partnering Swedish and Kenyan companies to extract methane from sewage water. The sewage water of Delhi and the rotten vegetables of Azadpur mandi can be used to fuel around 1,000 buses with bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) here.We are very keenly looking for some place in the sea where we can set up windmills to create power. We are inviting all technology available in roads and bridges. We are asking for pre-fabricated bridges for Naxal areas because of difficult working conditions there. We can also put solar panels on the godowns lined up next to our ports. I was in the Andamans and they make all their electricity using diesel. The cost is Rs 24 per unit. Now technology to convert algae into diesel is available. I want to propagate green diesel, green fuel.Our diesel is of very poor quality. You need to invest in refineries to produce better quality fuel as well. Who will do that? It is the right question to the wrong person. If we want Euro VI engines, we also need standard fuel for it. It requires Rs 22,000 crore investment in the refineries, only then can we do it.The finance minister has his own constraints. But he is very positive about infrastructure. The budget should be very good for our shipping, inland waterways etc. I have requested for green energy incentives as well.I am the one who started the PPP model in this country. I have always had the opinion that the budget should prioritise the poorer sections where there is no economic viability and the chances of private investment are bleak. I had the chance to work on the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The state of roads in villages in very bad. I am a farmer and our voices are not heard in Delhi.First priority is agriculture and rural sector. Irrigation is therefore very important area. I want my budget to increase, but as an individual I feel that tribals, poor, education, health should get priority. In 1999, a report on the PMGSY said that if villages are connected with a strong road network, the GDP of this country will rise by Rs 1,10,000 crore. The last man in the society should be the priority of the government.We took steps for promoting e-rickshaws and e-carts. We wanted to make the person who lugs the passengers an entrepreneur. We took it out of the Motor Vehicles Act and I got an earful from the court for it. So we made changes in the Act, included it. The decision for coal that our government took is not for the benefit of the corporates. It is their loss in fact. The land acquisition Act which is being talked about – if power plants are not made how will farmers get electricity, how will industries come up? If land is not acquired, how will irrigation work be done? In a nutshell, the poorest of the poor has to be uplifted, given employment and a sustainable life. These decisions are pro-poor.I spoke with the Prime Minister and I suggested various things and he asked me to study them. I am from a village. Don’t misunderstand me but the grievances of our villages don’t come to you. What happened in national highways – I worked day night for 7-8 months and end up seeing Rs 3,80,000 crore accounts are lying as non-performing assets in banks. Is this not the loss of the nation? I am not anti-environment. Ethics, economy and ecology all are important and have to be in proper synergy.In politics, there are ups and downs. It is not fair to make all assessments on the basis of one election. Delhi elections last year as well saw an even stronger Aam Aadmi Party flavour. Our party fought with strength.I have been handed over the charge of my ministry and I have my full concentration on my work. Till my party does not give me any additional responsibility this is where I shall focus. When it gets discussed in the party we will talk.I have met with the governments of Japan, Korea, China, Dubai. They are ready to invest but hedging is a problem. I tell the finance ministry, if you do not want to give me more funds, don't. But give me permission to take foreign funds. I want to make 101 rivers part of our inland waterways. Travelling on road costs Rs 1.50, by railway Rs 1 and on water 30 paise. In India, 13 coal projects are on the riverside. If we save on transportation, then the cost of power falls by 50 paise.There is no timeframe. I have five years. I am trying my level best. I dream of manufacturing seaplanes, hovercraft... I know there are a lot of difficulties in this. Let us see how much one can achieve.Some people have taken the contract for tarnishing us on small things, that we are communal. For vote bank politics they want to create a fear in the minds of the minorities. Neither the Prime Minister nor the government has given the nod to this. Sabka saath, sabka vikas -- justice to all and appeasement of none.Government has said it will take stern action. But to use this to tarnish us is wrong. There is a political conspiracy behind it--to malign us across the world and to get votes in the next elections.Do you know that 400 MW power is supplied to Delhi at the cost of Rs 1.19 per unit. In Sasan, Reliance has put up a project through which Delhi government will get power at this cost. Madhya Pradesh gets 1,500 Mw power at the cost of Rs 1.19 per unit. If Kejriwal comes to me, I will show him the way. Instead of 400 Mw, (if) the government had invested for getting 1,500 Mw of power, then it would be getting this amount of power for Rs 1.19, which could be given at Rs 2.50. The issue is not about cheap power but about how we make it available at cheap rates. Delhi does not have transmission lines. Such statements are made for political popularity... This is a test for them (AAP). If they don't buy cheap, they cannot give power cheap.This issue comes under concurrent list. States have to enact a law on this. I firmly believe that this should be under the MV Act. This issue cannot be one of information technology alone.If there is an incident in a bus, we ban buses or if in a train, do we ban trains? Channels ran my statement day and night. What was wrong in what I said? Our PM is also for e-governance, technology, innovation, entrepreneurship.I have letters of CPM, Congress and other chief ministers in my records. They have said this law should be amended. Many senior leaders have met me in parliament and said this law should be amended. We have increased the compensation, reduced red tape. Many farmers are putting political pressure that roads should be built through their fields so that they make profits.Ask the parliamentary affairs minister, he will tell. If the Bill has to be passed, there can be a common (joint) session.I don't think so. I feel that a victory or a defeat is for everybody. Congress vote percentage went down so much and anti-BJP vote got consolidated in one place. Our vote share remained intact. We will study this and try to win the confidence of the voters. But no leader has said that (Narendra) Modi or (Amit) Shah are responsible. I am a part of every team but this was never discussed.One has to be patient about change that is to take place. The 10-year regime of UPA has left the country at this position. Evaluation should be done on economic parameters. It is not that all expectations will be fulfilled in nine months. We have five years.If he had done such good work then why has Congress got zero seats in Delhi. We did not win but Congress got wiped (out).I don’t think so. I am busy with my work and it is my priority. I can tell you one thing-- what has not happened in 25 years, I will do it the next five years.