“The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has constructed 12,349 km of national highways in 2023-24 - the second highest achievement! In 2020-21 a record 13,327 kms were constructed, the highest so far. The experience of a well-constructed road is no accident but a badly constructed one can cause many,” said Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST Construction Council (FCC), at the launch of a road show - 14th Roads and Highways Sustainable Technologies and Advancement [RAHSTA] Expo, which will be held from 9-10 October 2024 at Jio Convention Centre in Mumbai. RAHSTA is dedicated to the world of road construction equipment, technology and sustainability. Underscoring the need for specialised platforms like RAHSTA Expo for the burgeoning road construction industry, Vipin Sondhi, Chairman, RAHSTA Expo Committee and former Managing Director of Ashok Leyland and JCB, said, “The biggest opportunity in Indian infrastructure lies in road construction. With 6.3 million km, India has the second-largest road network in the world. National Highways has witnessed 58 per cent growth since 2013, a testament to India’s ambition. As per Interim budget 2024-25, the government will spend a record `11.11 trillion on infrastructure creation in 2024-25 to ensure India remains one of the world’s fastest growing major economies. In this backdrop, RAHSTA will play a crucial role in driving progress towards more resilient, inclusive, and environmentally sustainable transportation infrastructure.” In agreement with the need for such an expo, Ashish Kumar Singh, CGM - Finance, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), said, “It [RAHSTA] will provide an excellent platform for capital goods, consultant firms, equipment companies and technology firms to converge. It also benefits older industries as new technology and equipment continuously enter the market. These advancements are often cost-effective and, at times, eco-friendly.”