Building Tomorrow’s Roads
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Building Tomorrow’s Roads

The second RAHSTA Forum 2024, held on August 30 at Hotel Sahara Star, has successfully set the stage for the highly anticipated RAHSTA Expo 2024. This prelude event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and key stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions, setting the tone for what...

The second RAHSTA Forum 2024, held on August 30 at Hotel Sahara Star, has successfully set the stage for the highly anticipated RAHSTA Expo 2024. This prelude event brought together industry leaders, innovators, and key stakeholders to engage in insightful discussions, setting the tone for what promises to be a landmark event in India’s road and highway infrastructure sector.The Forum was inaugurated by Pratap Padode, Founder of the FIRST Construction Council, a pioneering organisation dedicated to advancing India’s infrastructure development. Padode emphasised the Forum’s role as a crucial stepping stone toward the RAHSTA Expo 2024 and highlighted the upcoming RAHSTA Awards.He remarked, “Out of the total Rs 2.78 lakh crore allocated, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has been designated around Rs 1.68 lakh crore as part of MoRTH’s capital expenditure plan for 2024-25. The government is focusing on developing access-controlled national highways and ensuring they meet a minimum of two lanes with paved shoulder standards.”Vipin Sondhi, Chairman of the RAHSTA Expo Committee and former MD and CEO of JCB India and Ashok Leyland, added, “The positive momentum in the industry is further reinforced by the 2024 Union Budget, which emphasises rapid infrastructure growth, particularly in roadways. The significant increase in capital expenditure dedicated to improving and expanding road infrastructure signals the government’s commitment to building a world-class network of roads and highways. This investment will not only enhance connectivity across the nation but also spur economic growth, create jobs, and improve the quality of life for millions of citizens.”A key highlight of the Forum was an engaging panel discussion on “BOT Revised Scheme, QCBS Tender System, and Road Projects Being Awarded.” Moderated by Vijay Agrawal, Managing Director at Equirus, the discussion featured a distinguished panel of experts, including RK Pandey, Former Member of NHAI and Member of the RAHSTA Committee; Prof. Satish Pandey, Principal Scientist at CSIR-Central Road Research Institute; Sudhir Hoshing, CEO of IRB Infrastructure Developers; and Zafar Khan, Chief Operating Officer at Highway Concessions One.The panel explored critical issues affecting the road and highway sector, including updates on the BOT scheme, the QCBS tender system, and the latest trends in project awards. Their insights provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the evolving landscape of road infrastructure in India.The forum for the RAHSTA Expo was attended by prominent figures from the infrastructure industry, including Himanshu Agarwal, COO of Zydex Industries; Rajan Aiyer, Managing Director of Trimble; Satin Sachdeva, Founder & Secretary General of the Construction Equipment Rental Association; SP Rajan, VP and Head of Plant and Machinery at L&T Construction; Satish Kumar, CEO of Mumbai First; Ashwin Moghe, Senior Vice President at UltraTech, among other exhibitors of the RAHSTA Expo.

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Infrastructure Urban

CONCOR Launches Double-stack Service Between NCR and Varnama

State-run Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) has launched double-stack container train services between the National Capital Region (NCR) and Varnama near Baroda. This initiative aims to facilitate customers at Nhava Sheva near Mumbai, home to Jawaharlal Nehru Port (J N Port). On December 21, the first double-stack container train from Khatuwas and Dadri in NCR reached CONCOR’s Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal (GCT) at Varnama, situated along the Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC). The train carried export cargo destined for J N Port, according to a statement from the state..

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Infrastructure Transport

Less than 10% of Rs 40 Billion State-aid for Shipbuilding Utilised

A government-sanctioned financial assistance program worth Rs 40 billion, intended to support local shipbuilders over a decade starting in April 2016, has seen minimal utilisation, with only Rs 3.85 billion—less than 10 per cent of the total fund—disbursed thus far. With 15 months remaining before the scheme concludes, its uptake has been limited. The financial aid applies to shipbuilding contracts signed between April 1, 2016, and March 31, 2026. According to a written response provided by Union Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal to the Rajya Sabha on December ..

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Infrastructure Transport

Civil Aviation Minister Opens New ATC Tower at Indore Airport

The Minister for Civil Aviation, Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu, inaugurated the new Air Traffic Control (ATC) Tower-cum-technical block at Devi Ahilyabai Holkar International Airport in Indore, Madhya Pradesh. During the inauguration, the minister toured the facility, where ATC experts explained various technical aspects of tracking and coordinating flights from the newly constructed tower. In addition to the ATC tower, the airport has also introduced a zero-waste plant. The union minister confirmed that this initiative aligns with the government’s commitment to sustainability. Minister Ki..

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