The Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari wants India to take the top spot when it comes to Construction Equipment Manufacturing, in the next five years.
"The construction sector in India currently ranks as the world's third-largest. Yet, by fostering collaborative endeavors among stakeholders, and corporations, and through substantial government support, we have the potential to propel it to the top spot within the next five years,” Gadkari said, addressing the 12th edition of the CII Excon 2023.
Road to sustainability
Talking at South Asia’s largest construction equipment trade fair organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the minister emphasised that the construction sector will have a significant contribution to the Prime Minister's vision to make India a carbon neutral economy and said to achieve this goal, the government is embarking on major infrastructure and industrial projects that implement sustainable fuels.
“Construction and mining operations consume 400 crore liters of diesel, which is quite detrimental to the environment and the economy. By embracing alternative fuels such as ethanol, methanol, and hydrogen, the construction and mining sectors can effectively reduce emissions. Precast concrete emerges as a commendable substitute for traditional concrete. We advocate for industry collaboration to bolster the capabilities of construction through the use of sustainable materials and alternative fuels,” he added.
Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry, in the inaugural session said, “Currently, India's construction equipment industry is exporting to over 140 countries. To enhance sustainability and efficiency, private players in the construction sector should focus on automation, the adoption of advanced technologies, global best practices, the use of alternative fuels, and innovations in utilizing waste materials as raw materials for construction projects. This approach aims to reduce both the cost of construction and the rate of pollution.”