Union Minister Nitin Gadkari Highlights Importance of Decentralization and Road Safety at National Highways Excellence Awards

New Delhi:  In a bid to underscore the significance of decentralization and road safety in achieving success, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, addressed the “National Highways Excellence Awards (NHEA)” program for the 2022 award cycle with a theme focused on “Excellence in Project Management and Road Safety.” The event celebrated the commendable efforts in the construction and maintenance of highways, emphasizing a collective approach towards infrastructure development.

During his address, Shri Gadkari emphasized the need for the distribution of work and decentralization of power, viewing them as crucial elements for success in various endeavors. He took pride in the remarkable pace of construction of roads, tunnels, and bridges, attributing the achievements to collective team spirit. The minister called for a concerted effort to reduce costs and enhance the quality of construction while emphasizing the importance of contributing to the protection and preservation of the ecology and environment.

Congratulating the contractors, DPR consultants, engineers, and chief engineers who received awards for their excellence in road safety and nation-building, Shri Gadkari acknowledged the challenges faced by the industry, including the rise in black spots, pollution due to the roadway sector, and confusing road signages. He urged caution, emphasizing the need for diligence from all stakeholders.

Minister of State General (Rtd.) Dr. V K Singh expressed gratitude to the jury for their tireless efforts and congratulated the winners of the prestigious awards. He expressed optimism that widespread adoption of road signages would contribute to a reduction in road accidents.

Secretary Shri Anurag Jain stressed the shared responsibility of engineers and all stakeholders in addressing challenges such as the identification and rectification of black spots. He highlighted the importance of quality construction and timely project completion.

The National Highways Excellence Awards (NHEA) were initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) in 2018 to recognize and incentivize stakeholders involved in highway construction and maintenance, fostering healthy competitiveness. The ceremony saw the participation of top officials from MoRTH, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), as well as concessionaires, developers, contractors, academicians, and representatives of NGOs.

Panel discussions chaired by senior officials and sector experts were organized, addressing various aspects of the highway construction and maintenance process. Awards were presented to concessionaires and contractors who demonstrated exceptional work in project management, operations & maintenance, highway safety, green highways, outstanding work in challenging conditions, and innovation.