Delhi: Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, underscored the significance of decentralization and quality in road infrastructure development during the National Highways Excellence Awards (NHEA) program. He commended the collective efforts in road construction, stressing the need for cost reduction and enhanced construction quality while prioritizing ecological preservation.
Addressing the theme of “Excellence in Project Management and Road Safety” at the NHEA program, Shri Nitin Gadkari reiterated the remarkable progress in road, tunnel, and bridge construction across the nation, emphasizing the collective team spirit behind these endeavors.
He acknowledged the challenges facing the industry, including increasing black spots and pollution, urging caution and diligence from all stakeholders. Minister of State General(Rtd.) Dr. V K Singh expressed optimism about reducing road accidents through improved road signage adoption.
Secretary Shri Anurag Jain emphasized the shared responsibility of engineers and stakeholders in identifying and rectifying black spots, emphasizing quality construction and timely project completion.
Initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in 2018, the NHEA aims to incentivize stakeholders in highway construction and maintenance, fostering healthy competition. Top officials from MoRTH, NHAI, NHIDCL, and other stakeholders attended the event, along with participants from various sectors.
Panel discussions chaired by senior officials and sector experts highlighted critical aspects of highway development. Awards were presented to concessionaires/contractors demonstrating exceptional work in project management, operations & maintenance, highway safety, green highways, and innovation under challenging conditions.
