Gadkari Pushes for Sustainability and Innovation in Construction Equipment Industry at ICEMA Annual Session 2025

At the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA) Annual Session 2025 held today in New Delhi, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari emphasized the strategic importance of the construction equipment (CE) industry in achieving India’s development goals by 2047.

Speaking in the context of the industry’s 3% growth in FY25, with total equipment sales reaching 1,40,191 units and exports up by 10%, Gadkari highlighted the role of technology, sustainability, and quality in enhancing global competitiveness. He stressed that transitioning to green fuels, electric and hydrogen-based equipment is both environmentally and economically beneficial.

“Adopting sustainable practices is a strategic move that benefits all stakeholders. If the CE industry embraces sustainability, quality, and innovation, I can guarantee global demand will grow significantly,” he said.

The minister underscored infrastructure as a key driver of national growth, identifying roads, railways, and mining as focus sectors. He reaffirmed the government's strict quality standards, warning of consequences for lapses.

He also called for greater domestic capacity in advanced machinery for tunneling and pre-cast construction. “We are building tunnels worth ₹3 lakh crore, but machinery availability remains a bottleneck,” he noted, encouraging industry to adopt and indigenize advanced European technologies.

On the policy front, Shri Gadkari announced the government’s intention to introduce a new bill in the upcoming Parliament session aimed at addressing competitive challenges faced by the CE industry in the global market.

ICEMA President and Managing Director of Caterpillar India, V. Vivekanand, requested regulatory support to make operator skilling mandatory. “It’s not just about compliance; it’s about improving quality, minimizing risk, and unlocking long-term productivity,” he said.

Delivering the closing remarks, Deepak Shetty, President-Designate, ICEMA and CEO & MD of JCB India, highlighted the need for innovation, sustainability, and digital transformation. He reiterated the industry’s commitment to strengthening domestic manufacturing and green practices.

The session reinforced the CE sector’s essential role in infrastructure development and its alignment with the national vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047”.