Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday called on WAPCOS, a Mini Ratna-I public sector enterprise to work in the direction of Mass Rapid Transportation System as it was the need-of-the-hour. Addressing a gathering on WAPCOS' 50th foundation day in New Delhi, Gadkari said that the firm should "enter more deeply into the infrastructure sector." He heaped praises on the consultancy firm for its "huge" success in the field of water resources, power and irrigation in India and 46 foreign countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America. "WAPCOS has shown how a combination of good technology and reasonable and low cost can yield positive results," the Union Minister said. He added that developing world today needs more economically-viable technology. In this context, he also informed the gathering that his ministry is planning to use solar power for desalinization of sea water. In 2017-18, WAPCOS achieved the highest ever gross income of Rs 1110 crore. Earlier, at the function, firm's CMD R K Gupta presented highest ever interim dividend of Rs 50 crore to Union Minister Gadkari. In the last 8 years, the consultancy firm's profitability has grown over 75 per cent, from Rs 102.52 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 180 crore in 2017-18. Minister of State in the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation Arjun Meghwal and Dr Satya Pal Singh were also present on the occasion along with ambassadors and high commissioners of several countries, including Tanzania, Rawanda, Senegal, Angola, Mozambique, Nepal, Bhutan, Afghanistan, Cambodia, Laos, Mongolia and others. Speaking on the occasion, MoS Meghwal said he was delighted to see WAPCOS growing into a "true" multinational company with footprints across the globe. He commended the company for successfully undertaking some of the most challenging projects in inhospitable circumstances around the world like Afghan-India Friendship (Salma) dam project. He expressed hope that WAPCOS would soon become a "Navratna" organization from "Mini Ratna". Dr Satyapal Singh and WAPCOS CMD R K Gupta also spoke on the occasion.