General V K Singh, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways stressed upon the need to reduce the time taken in drafting the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for construction of roads and highways. This will not only ensure faster turnaround but will also help in reducing costs. Mr Singh said, "The very first change that is needed is in the DPR itself. We need to look at the way we make our DPR. If it is going to take one year or more, I think we need to pull up our socks." He said that there has to be a better methodology, and better utilization of all available technical details, along with the utilization of data using drones, AI, etc. in preparing the DPR. "Sorting this out must be done with experts who have technical knowledge and who can put down what is available in best possible form," he added. General (Retd.) Singh added that very good targets have been set so that we can improve the national highway network and ensure that they also assist the economy.
"We need to have roads which are cheaper, roads which can be built faster with materials which do not denude natural resources," he said, adding that the government is open to newer technologies which can make roads cheaper and ensure that roads are laid faster. Mr R K Pandey, Member Projects, NHAI, said that in the past 4-5 years, the NHAI has introduced a number of technologies that will ensure the reduction in cost and lead to green construction. He said that within a month, NHAI will issue a new document on the use of waste plastics in road construction.
Mr Sandip Somany, President, FICCI, said that India's road infrastructure has seen transformational change in recent years. "Target set by Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to build 65,000 km of national highways will be a key enabler to PM Modi's vision of taking India to a $5 trillion economy by 2024-25," said Mr Somany.
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