Nitin Gadkari envisions India as the Global Leader by 2028

CII EXCON 2023: South Asia’s Largest Construction Equipment Exhibition, Inaugurated by Nitin Gadkari

“The construction sector in India currently ranks as the world’s third-largest. Yet, by fostering collaborative endeavours 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,” says Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India.

Gadkari said in his inaugural address to the 12th edition of CII EXCON 2023, South Asia’s largest construction equipment trade fair organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), that the construction sector will make a significant contribution to the Prime Minister’s vision of making India a carbon-neutral economy. To that end, the government is launching massive infrastructure and industrial projects that will use sustainable energy.

“Construction and mining operations consume 400 crore litres 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,” Gadkari added.

The Minister also emphasised the state’s tremendous commercial opportunities for the construction sector, highlighting the importance of large-scale infrastructure development programmes. These include large-scale projects like flyovers, power, industrial infrastructure, and roadways.

Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry, in the inaugural session says, “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 practises, the use of alternative fuels, and innovations in utilising waste materials as raw materials for construction projects. This approach aims to reduce both the cost of construction and the rate of pollution.”

While speaking about EXCON, he added, “The Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA) is the sector partner, and the National Highways Authority of India and the Builders Association of India are supporting partners for EXCON. The event spread over 32,00,000 square feet of display area and attracted over 1000 exhibitors, including more than 100 from overseas. The exhibition also attracted participation from 15 countries, including 5 pavilions from France, Germany, Italy, Turkey, and the UK.

While proposing the vote of thanks, Vivekanand Vanmeeganathan, President of the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association, says, “We are grateful for the invaluable guidance provided by Shri Nitin Gadkari in steering India’s construction sector. With confidence, we anticipate that in the coming years, the industry will continue to draw upon his insights, striving to become not only the most sustainable but also the world’s topmost innovator.”

EXCON emphasises a committed effort towards sustainable power solutions by presenting state-of-the-art displays of electric and hybrid machinery designed for minimum emissions and maximum energy efficiency. In addition, the event provides a forum for showcasing the most recent advancements in automation, IoT, and artificial intelligence, which actively advance smart building technologies and promote an innovative culture within the sector.

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