New Delhi: The new United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has identified infrastructure development as its top most priority for faster economic growth and equitable distribution of income.

T R Baalu, who today (May 26, 2004) took charge of the Ministries of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, said infrastructure will be built rapidly and, if needed, policies changed.

To begin with, the Ministries of Road Transport and Highways and Shipping will be merged, as was the case before the previous Government split it. "There is a quantum jump in economic and industrial growth in the country for which all our highways have to be upgraded to international level," he told reporters.

He said the task for highway development would be beyond the Golden Quadrilateral project launched by the previous National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government that connected four metros of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata with four/six lane highways.

Shipping industry, he said, was under severe pressure and Government intervention like introduction of tonnage tax was required to strengthen it. "If need be, the policy measures will have to be changed."

Baalu stressed on running ports, the gateway of trade, as a company, but stopped short of saying they will be privatised. "A decision (on privatisation) will be taken only after due consultation with our coalition allies and studying the merits of it," he said.