Pune : Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, was conferred the prestigious ‘Lokmanya Tilak National Award – 2025’ today at a special ceremony held at the Tilak Memorial Temple in Pune.
The event saw the presence of several key political figures including Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, former Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde, Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakantdada Patil, and Dr. Rohit Tilak, President of the Lokmanya Tilak Memorial Trust, along with family members of Lokmanya Tilak.
During the function, heartfelt tributes were paid to Nitin Gadkari, describing him as a proud Marathi leader and a true visionary sculpting the new India dreamt of by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was also credited as the driving force behind India’s first access-controlled highway – the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.
Speakers reflected on how Gadkari’s achievements resonate with the revolutionary spirit of Lokmanya Tilak, who was hailed as the “Father of Indian Unrest”. A special mention was made of Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, acknowledging his unwavering support in the creation of Maharashtra’s prosperity highways and imagining Gadkari’s recognition would have made him proud.
The event witnessed an overwhelming response from citizens of Pune, who gathered in large numbers to honour the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak and celebrate Gadkari’s contribution to nation-building.
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