Nitin Gadkari turns 68: PM Modi leads birthday wishes, hails infrastructure legacy
Synopsis
Nitin Gadkari turns 68 and the tributes pouring in from PM Modi, Yogi Adityanath, and Devendra Fadnavis reflect more than birthday courtesy — they underscore the rare political capital of a minister who has held a single portfolio for over twelve years across three terms, reshaping India's highway network in the process.
Key Takeaways
Nitin Gadkari turns 68 on 27 May 2025 , born in Nagpur on 27 May 1957.
PM Modi extended birthday wishes on X, praising Gadkari's role in delivering 'next-generation infrastructure and enhanced connectivity.' Gadkari is the longest-serving Road Transport and Highways Minister , holding the portfolio for over 12 years across three consecutive terms .
UP CM Yogi Adityanath , Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis , and BJP National President Nitin Nabin also extended wishes on X.
Gadkari's tenure has coincided with a sharp rise in national highway construction pace, from under 12 km per day in 2014 to over 28 km per day at peak.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, 27 May extended birthday greetings to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, celebrating both the occasion and the minister's decade-long record of transforming India's road and connectivity landscape. Gadkari, who turns 68 today, is widely regarded as one of the most consequential infrastructure ministers in independent India's history.
PM Modi's Tribute
Taking to social media platform X, Prime Minister Modi wrote: 'Best wishes to my ministerial colleague Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji on his birthday. He is at the forefront of numerous efforts towards ensuring India gets next-generation infrastructure and enhanced connectivity. Praying for his long and healthy life.'
Gadkari responded warmly, saying: 'Respected Narendra Bhai, heartfelt gratitude for your kind wishes. Your visionary leadership continues to inspire us to work with dedication towards the nation's growth and development.'
A Record-Setting Ministerial Career
Born on 27 May 1957 into a Marathi Brahmin family in Nagpur, Gadkari has held the Road Transport and Highways portfolio for over twelve years — making him the longest-serving minister in that role. He is notably the only individual in the current political era to serve under a single portfolio across three consecutive terms, a distinction that underscores the political trust placed in his execution capability.
Under his stewardship, India's national highway network has expanded dramatically, with construction pace rising from under 12 km per day in 2014 to peak rates exceeding 28 km per day in recent years, according to ministry data.
BJP Leaders Join the Celebrations
Bharatiya Janata Party National President J.P. Nadda's colleague Nitin Nabin, the BJP National President, also took to X to extend wishes: 'Warm birthday wishes to Union Cabinet Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari Ji. Wishing you a long life, good health, and continued success in your dedicated service to the nation.'
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath described Gadkari as a 'visionary and dedicated people's leader,' posting on X: 'Heartfelt birthday greetings to Shri Nitin Gadkari ji, a senior member of the BJP family, a visionary and dedicated people's leader, and the honourable Union Minister. I pray to Lord Shri Siddhivinayak for your healthy, long, and disease-free life.'
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis added his voice on X: 'Heartiest birthday greetings to our great leader, Hon. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Ji. Wishing you a long life and good health!'
What Gadkari's Legacy Signals
This comes amid a broader political moment for Gadkari, who has often spoken independently on economic and environmental policy — including his vocal push for green hydrogen, ethanol blending, and electric mobility — sometimes departing from the party line. His longevity in the same portfolio is unusual in Indian coalition politics, where ministerial reshuffles are frequent. As India continues to scale its infrastructure ambitions ahead of the 2047 'Viksit Bharat' target, Gadkari's continued presence at the helm of road transport remains a stabilising factor for long-gestation projects.
Point of View
But the specificity of Modi's praise for Gadkari — 'next-generation infrastructure' — is a deliberate signal of ownership over India's highway story ahead of the 2029 election cycle. Gadkari's unusual three-term single-portfolio tenure reflects an implicit acknowledgement that infrastructure delivery is too politically valuable to disrupt with reshuffles. Yet Gadkari has also been the BJP's most independent voice on green energy and economic policy, occasionally at odds with party orthodoxy — a tension that the birthday posts paper over but do not resolve.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Nitin Gadkari and when is his birthday?
Nitin Gadkari was born on 27 May 1957 in Nagpur and turns 68 in 2025. He comes from a Marathi Brahmin family and has spent decades in Maharashtra and national politics.
Why is Nitin Gadkari considered the longest-serving Road Transport Minister?
Gadkari has held the Road Transport and Highways portfolio continuously for over twelve years across three consecutive government terms, making him the only minister in recent Indian political history to serve a single portfolio for that duration.
What did PM Modi say about Nitin Gadkari on his birthday?
PM Modi posted on X: 'He is at the forefront of numerous efforts towards ensuring India gets next-generation infrastructure and enhanced connectivity.' He also prayed for Gadkari's long and healthy life.
Which other leaders wished Nitin Gadkari on his birthday?
BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis all posted birthday wishes for Gadkari on X, praising his service and leadership.
What has Nitin Gadkari achieved as Road Transport Minister?
Under Gadkari's tenure, India's national highway construction pace rose significantly, with the ministry reporting peak construction rates exceeding 28 km per day — up from under 12 km per day in 2014. He has also championed green hydrogen, ethanol blending, and electric mobility initiatives.
