Member of Parliament Shankar Lalwani has earned sobriquets like Flyover Man, State’s Sonu Sood, Most Active Parliamentarian of the Country by IIM and Southern Gujarat University etc for the crucial role he played to ensure safety and return of students stuck in war-torn Ukraine, violence-hit Manipur or Covid-19 affected Rome, back to their home in various parts of the country. The IITian is deeply concerned about atrocities on minority Hindus in Pakistan. His statements compelled the then Pakistan Prime Minister to react sharply. ‘The Hitavada’ during a tete-a-tete with this IITian and politician discussed a wide range of topics. Here are some of the excerpts:

 

Q. Where do you see the State’s infrastructural progress in the coming time ?

Ans: As Madhya Pradesh’s geographical position is almost in the centre of the country. It will be worthwhile if the State hosts a logistic hub. It can be an ideal destination for integrated facilities for transportation of goods, both at national and international level. Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) is being developed in an area of 255.17 acre at Pithampur in Dhar district near Indore of the State. After becoming operational, it is expected that it will reduce logistics costs to around 8-9 % of (GDP) with an estimated cost of Rs 1,110.58 crore. If we talk about Indore, this commercial capital accounts for 42 % infrastructure growth. It has 3 lakh per capita Income as against country’s 1.42 lakh.

 

Q. Projects like Gauge Conversion, Manmaad, Dahod etc have taken too long. How is the situation now?

Ans: Yes, Indore Khandwa gauge conversion has taken many years almost since a decade the work is going on as there were some hurdles. But now 80 per cent work at Indore to Akola is complete. Only a stretch from Rau to Sanawad section is remaining. Which will be completed soon. Electrification has been over. In 2024, Indore-Budhani will be completed. State’s commercial capital Indore will leave Bhopal in the railway network in two years.

Q You have emerged as a trouble shooter for Indian students, stuck at different parts of the world and country

during emergency situations like Ukrain, Rome during Covid-19 or Manipur ? How did you accomplish this daunting task?

Ans: We need to be human beings first only then professional title comes whether it is a politician or technician or a bureaucrat etc. Keeping this in mind, I only remain in touch with people as a family member. During pandemic, I was taking care of my wife who was hospitalised; some of the families contacted me in a hope to help their children studying abroad. Then I spoke to the Foreign Minister and managed to send them to their homes in various states in the country. Total 23 students from MP stuck in Manipur returned home safely, all these students arrived at Devi Ahilya Bai Airport via Kolkata. We, along with the team of administrative officials, reached the airport to receive them. Since some of them had tough time and were in shock, we comforted them as they were traumatised. We did not directly send them to another bus to take them to their cities, instead we made arrangements for their stay and food at a hotel in Indore. Only after that they were sent to different cities of the State. In the case of Ukraine, parents of around 25 children contacted me and then I approached senior officials of the External Affairs Ministry. At the same time, I used to talk to students staying in Ukraine over phone so that they could have assurance. It requires constant and relentless efforts with having human touch.

Q How does being an IIT graduate helps you in politics?

Ans: Being technically aware of insights of a project, I can be a part of the problem solving team. Before putting proposals to ministers, I used to discuss with officials so that problems can be rectified at initial level itself. In this way, it saves time and money to get approval.

Q. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan called you ‘Flyover Man’, what do you have to say about this?

Ans: Central ministers used to say that whenever Lalwani comes in the name of a thanks giving meeting, he takes away approval for a new project.