India’s Minister of Road Transport, Highways and Shipping, Nitin Gadkari, announced he wants to build a structure to surpass the tallest skyscraper in the world, Dubai’s Burj Khalifa. However, the announcement is now sparking outrage online.
Gadkari considers the Mumbai Port Trust as the “richest landlord” of the city and the proposed tall building is part of a dream project to make use of its huge swathes of industrial wasteland by developing green boulevards, maritime museums, marinas and recreation spaces.
“In Mumbai, we are the number one landlord. The iconic Taj Hotel, the Ballard Estate, the Reliance building, we (MbPT) are the owners. There are beautiful plans to develop the huge land with the port,” Gadkari said according to the Hindustan Times.
The plans will be underway after the Cabinet gives the green light.
“We are not giving our land to the builders and investors. We have plans to develop the area…We are making a green, smart road, three times bigger than the Marine Drive. We plan historic landmark bigger than Burj Khalifa. The plan is ready, we are waiting for the approval from the Cabinet,” the minister said.
But India’s plans to surpass the 2,717-foot Burj Khalifa were met with heavy criticism from Twitter users.
Nitin Gadkari wants a building taller than the Burj Khalifa. This is what happens when a village idiot becomes a minister.
— lindsay pereira (@lindsaypereira) April 16, 2017
@nitin_gadkari What we need is higher index of happiness & not taller buildings than Burj Khalifa !
— My Time Zone (@InderMendiratta) April 16, 2017
News: Nitin Gadkari plans landmark taller than Burj Khalifa on Mumbai waterfront.
Fact: None dies of hunger in Dubai, millions do in India!— Samar (@Samar_Anarya) April 16, 2017
@EconomicTimes India needs food shelter water for the millions below poverty n jobs infrastructure n the list goes on n not a burj khalifa
— fasiha mujahid (@annuhai) April 16, 2017
@EconomicTimes Misplaced priorities… Someone needs to tell this guy India news food, water, shelter, jobs……not buildings
— JaiyashreeAnbu (@JaiyashreeAnbu) April 16, 2017
@EconomicTimes How about cleaning and decongesting Mumbai roads first??
— Tasneem (@tasisme) April 16, 2017
@EconomicTimes Yeah.. Tallest building to go with the largest slum. Variety is the spice of life after all!!
— Rishi Mishra (@aRishisays) April 16, 2017
Perhaps the minister should focus on making sure his people can eat well and read first.
Feature Image via Flickr / Petter Palander (CC by 2.0)
