Eighty five of the 135 super highways contracts awarded under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) have gone to Indian contractors, while only 11 foreign companies procured contracts. The remainder were joint ventures.
Union minister of state for road transport and highways, B C Khanduri, said: "This clearly establishes that Indian companies possess the technology to execute the work required for the most modern highways competitively." He was addressing a function to launch the website of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) as well as the new headquarters of IRC in New Delhi.
Khanduri emphasised the close relationship between the ministry of road transport and highways and the IRC. He called upon engineers to work in the larger interest of the nation, instead of working for smaller groups. "The level of skill has to be raised to achieve international fame," he said.
A B Pawar, president, IRC, and secretary, PWD, Government of Maharashtra, traced the history of road transport development in the country. "The development of roads drew the attention of the Government of India following the appointment of the Indian Road Development Committee, popularly known as Jayakar Committee. The IRC was established in 1934 on the recommendation of this committee," he said. The professional body of highway engineers has grown into a multi-dimensional organisation devoted to the cause of better roads in the country, he added.
Pawar stated that there was great pressure to modernise the public works department in order to meet the needs of highway professionals in the 21st century. He thanked the CPWD engineers for their contribution for the planning, design and construction of the IRC Headquarter Building.
The complex comprises one building with twin units, one for the IRC and other for Indian Building Congress. These units can be used independently and jointly. The cost of one unit including land is Rs 80 lakh. The consultancy work for the architectural design and preparation of tender documents was done by M/s. Consulting Engineering Services India Ltd on a honorary basis and the interior decoration was done by renowned architect Hafeez Contractor.
