Nitin Jayram Gadkari (Marathi: नितीन जयराम गडकरी) ; (born 27 May 1957) is an Indian politician and the current Minister for Road Transport and Highways and Shipping. Gadkari earlier served as the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party from 2010-2013. He is also known for the works during his tenure as a Public Works Department Minister in the state of Maharashtra when he constructed a series of roads, highways and flyovers across the state including the Yashwantrao Chavan Mumbai–Pune Expressway.