Pune: Union Minister for Road Transport, Nitin Gadkari, called for a shift in focus from developing "Smart Cities" to building "Smart Villages" in India, as he believes that neglecting the rural economy has worsened the situation in urban centers like Pune.

Gadkari emphasized that India cannot achieve self-reliance until its villages, poor, laborers, and farmers are uplifted. He made these remarks during the "COEP Pride Awards" ceremony at the College of Engineering Pune (COEP).

The event was attended by several prominent figures, including Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil, Dr. Pramod Chaudhari, Chairman of the COEP Governing Board, COEP Vice-Chancellor Dr. Sunil Bhirud, Alumni Association President Bharat Gite, and Professor Sujit Pardeshi.

Industrialist P.N. Bhagwati received the COEP Lifetime Achievement Award, while the COEP Pride Awards were given to actor Vaibhav Tatwawaadi, State Environment Department Principal Secretary Praveen Darade, Sikkim Cabinet Minister Raju Basnet, J.P. Morgan Chase Executive Director Monika Panpaliya, and Senior Director at Tesla Motors, Hrishikesh Sagar.

Gadkari projected that within the next two years, India would become the world's leading hub for semiconductor production. He emphasized the importance of technology that drives societal progress and improves the lives of the underprivileged.

Driverless Vehicles Will Not Be Allowed in India

During the event, Gadkari also confirmed that driverless vehicles will not be permitted in India. He explained that the country employs approximately 2.2 million drivers, and introducing driverless technology would result in massive job losses. "As long as I am in this position, driverless vehicles will not be allowed in India," he affirmed.