Military engineering services, BRO & CE industry leaders collaborate at CII EXCON 2023 to shape India's infrastructure future

The CII EXCON 2023 event witnessed a crucial session focusing on 'Exploring Opportunities in Defence & Border Roads Projects.' During this session, the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) highlighted its substantial contributions to infrastructure development and outlined future initiatives.

Lt Gen. Raghu Srinivasan, Director General of the Border Roads Organisation, emphasised the collaboration between the BRO and industry partners. The showcase included a model bridge designed to meet specific requirements such as increased width, two lanes, enhanced support for larger spans, and a higher load classification. This successful collaboration underscores the critical role of state-of-the-art construction equipment technologies in meeting the evolving needs of organisations like the BRO.

Lt. Gen Arvind Walia, Engineer-In-Chief, Military Engineering Services, Ministry of Defence, expressed the importance of joining hands with industry leaders as a significant milestone in the tech-driven evolution of the construction industry. With a focus on defence infrastructure and a substantial allocation of almost 3.3% of the GDP (approximately 125 billion US dollars), the sector is poised to contribute significantly to the nation's growth and technological prowess.

Sandeep Singh, Managing Director, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery Company Pvt Ltd, and Anand Sundaresan, Managing Director, Ammann India, also contributed to the session.

In a separate CEO Roundtable 2023 themed 'Infrastructure Growth Story – Driving Sustained Demand,' prominent industry leaders engaged in an in-depth conversation addressing challenges and opportunities within India's construction equipment sector. Discussions focused on sustainable development, dedication to Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, private-sector funding, digitalisation, and collaboration between industry and academia to address skill shortages.

Vivekanand Vanmeeganathan, President, ICEMA, highlighted the industry's commitment to ESG principles for ensuring a sustainable future. Jaswinder Singh Bakshi, Chairman of the Taskforce on User Industry EXCON 2023, emphasised the government's infrastructure focus, evident in increasing budget outlays and flagship initiatives like NIP, NLP, and GMP.

Other speakers included V G Sakthikumar, Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India Pvt Ltd; Munish Sharda, Group Executive & Head (Bharat Banking), Axis Banking; Ramu Ravuri, Managing Director, Sree Raja Rajeswari Constructions (India) Pvt Ltd; and Dhruv Sharma, Founder, Reach International.

CII EXCON 2023 underscored the industry's collective commitment to embracing sustainability, recognising its significance for current operations and ensuring a resilient and eco-friendly future. The trajectory of India's infrastructure sector holds promise, backed by determined efforts to address challenges and leverage opportunities for long-term growth.