Delhi Hosts Summit On Road Infrastructure Future Development Focus
Delhi, the city recently hosted the second edition of ET Infra’s Roads and Highways Summit on Friday, where key discussions revolved around technology-enabled road development, quality maintenance, and optimizing financing models. A Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways emphasized the significant growth in highway and rural road development since 2014, noting its substantial contribution to national GDP growth and employment generation, especially in previously underserved regions. Discussions also highlighted efforts to decongest Delhi and reduce pollution through major road infrastructure projects.
Across India, significant progress has been made in highway construction over the past decade, though a recent dip in the pace of awards necessitates recalibration, including efforts to enhance the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) Model’s attractiveness. Road infrastructure buildup is projected to see saturation within the next fifteen to twenty years. While strides have been made, existing infrastructure still faces issues such as a lack of white lines, lane segmentation, faulty entry/exit points, improper compaction leading to road settlement, and potholes. Addressing these issues by relevant authorities is crucial to preventing accidents on national highways.
India’s border regions have seen a surge in connectivity since 2014, transforming remote villages and strengthening strategic sovereignty due to significant government impetus on infrastructure. Major projects like the Sela Tunnel and the upcoming Shinku la Tunnel underscore expanding scope and commitment to vital infrastructure despite extreme conditions. For future development, the focus must be on creating climate-resilient infrastructure to withstand the impacts of global warming and sporadic weather events, ensuring long term sustainability.
The summit featured panel discussions among industry stakeholders and government officials, deliberating on the roles of Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT), and the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) models, as well as the need for budgetary support to the sector. Technology-enabled roads and highway development, coupled with sustainable practices, were also prominent topics. Adding to these strategies, the road transport ministry plans to rank states based on the “ease of land acquisition,” aiming to reduce project delays, a parameter being carefully worked out.
Across India, the summit underscored the multifaceted approach required for sustainable, technologically advanced road infrastructure. Streamlining land acquisition processes emerges as a critical factor for accelerating development and enhancing safety nationwide. The focus remains on overcoming challenges to ensure robust connectivity and economic growth.
