Nitin Gadkari Urges Infrastructure Industry To Embrace Made In India Machinery To Cut Costs

Union minister Nitin Gadkari encouraged stakeholders in the infrastructure industry on Tuesday to adopt Made in India machinery to help lower project costs.

Speaking at Assocham's Annual Infrastructure Conference: CEOs Roundtable Discussion and Achiever Awards in New Delhi, the minister of road transport and highways emphasised the need for cost-effective solutions in India's infrastructure projects, particularly in tunnel construction.

"We should have... good technology. But at the same time, we have to reduce the cost. And for that reason, my request to all of you is that how it is possible for us to have Made in India machinery, which is our dream, and which is the mission for all of us," Gadkari said.

The minister also said a project cost should be reduced without compromising quality, as bridge and tunnel projects are very crucial.

Gadkari further said 55% work on the Zojila tunnel project is complete.

The tunnel project through the Zojila Pass at an altitude of 11,578 feet on the Srinagar-Kargil-Leh National highway is of strategic importance as the highway remains closed during winter due to heavy snowfall, cutting off Ladakh region from Kashmir.

While speaking at Zomato's 'Sustainability and Inclusivity: Role of the Platform Economy' event Gadkari added that the food delivery economy is very important for India as it is generating large-scale employment.

At present, India has 77 lakh delivery workers and this number is likely to touch 2.5 crore by 2030.

He also expressed concerns about the number of road accidents and said the delivery boys have high chances of meeting accidents as they have to deliver the items in a limited time frame.

Road accidents can be avoided by providing proper training, the minister said and congratulated Zomato for training 50,000 drivers.

(With Inputs From PTI)