Indian road sector set to meet global standards: Gadkari

The Dollar Business Bureau The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Friday called for the need of global standards in ensuring better infrastructure of Indian roads. The Union Minister said that the road construction projects meeting global standards is a key factor, but, there is also a  need to make sure that the construction costs are less. Speaking at the inaugural session on ‘Adoption of innovative technologies and materials for road construction in India’, the Minister emphasized on the use of the locally available materials in order to bring down the construction costs. Speaking at the session that was jointly organised by the Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (IAHE) and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in association with the World Bank, the Minister also stressed on use of appropriate scientific research to ensure quality construction. While emphasizing on the role Research and Development team in ensuring quality constructions, the Minister said, “Engineering and research part of our planning should be inclusive of all types of new and innovative technologies.” Emphasizing on need of innovation at all levels, the Minister said that priority of the government lies in the development of infrastructure sector. In this regard, the Minister called for an in-depth study of existing gaps between the international and national standards as an immediate need and also suggested for a launch of portal to bank various ideas and suggestions on road constructions. He further said that there is an immediate need for the completion of projects especially in the areas affected with extremism, with prefabricated and innovative technologies. The Ministry further announced that the new technologies/materials implemented in India or abroad shall be accredited, with subject to the conditions that they should provide their earlier performance reports from the user agencies of the major developed countries, where the materials have been already used. The Ministry also sought such companies/developers for their long term presence in the country so as to boost the country’s infrastructure sector. According to the World Bank statistics, the Indian road transportation constitutes the major share of the Indian transportation sector, which constitute to 6% of nation’s GDP. The private sector emerged as a key player in the development of Indian road infrastructure. According to Make in India statistics, the value of roadways and bridge infrastructure in India is expected to grow at a CAGR of 17.4% between 2012-17, to reach $10 Billion. During the next five years, investment through Public Private Partnerships are expected to be in the region of $ 31 Billion for national highways.  

This article was published on February 20, 2015.