Road ministry to promote new technologies in highway projects

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, has decided to implement a ‘Value Engineering Program’ to promote the use of new technologies, materials, and equipment in highways projects executed either under PPP mode or public funding mode.

“The objective of the programme is to use innovative technology, materials and equipment to reduce the cost of projects and make them more environment friendly, while simultaneously ensuring that the roads or bridges and other assets get constructed much faster, are structurally stronger and more durable,” an official statement said.

The Value Engineering Programme is expected to increase speed of construction, reduce construction cost, increase asset durability, and improve aesthetics and safety.

The ministry said it has also reconstituted a National Panel of Experts (NPE) last year for approving proposals for use of new technologies, material and equipment.

The statement said, “The NPE will examine all technical matters involving the new technologies, materials and equipment referred to it by the concerned Engineers or concessionaires or contractors.”

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