Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari called for greater adoption of alternative fuels and innovative technologies in the construction sector to drive sustainable infrastructure development.

Speaking at the 17th CIDC Vishwakarma Awards and Exhibition ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ in New Delhi, Gadkari emphasized the role of innovation, entrepreneurship, science, and research in transforming knowledge into economic value.

He highlighted the need to reduce construction costs through modern technologies, improved processes, and efficient project planning, while stressing faster decision-making and a strong focus on quality.

The minister also underscored the importance of completing land acquisition and statutory clearances in advance to avoid delays and financial stress on contractors.

Advocating sustainable solutions, Gadkari urged stakeholders to adopt biofuels, biomass-based fuels, and waste-to-wealth technologies, including the use of plastic waste and recycled tyres in road construction.

Citing successful examples such as projects in Nagpur, he noted that the use of plastic waste in road construction has delivered encouraging results and demonstrated the potential of sustainable materials.

He further called for stronger collaboration between industry, academia, and research institutions to develop advanced construction technologies, while highlighting the growing global presence of Indian infrastructure companies in regions such as the Middle East and Africa.

Gadkari also presented awards to winners at the event and expressed confidence that industry professionals will play a key role in achieving the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 through world-class infrastructure development.