lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan inaugurated the 76th convention of the Indian Road Congress here on Saturday.
The function was presided over by Union Surface Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari while Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was the special guest. Discussions will be held by experts on important issues like construction, maintenance, preservation of roads and bridges and road safety etc.
Sumitra Mahajan said that development is being witnessed at a rapid pace in urban as well as rural areas. Special attention needs to be paid to designs of main roads, bridges and culverts in rural areas. There should be no hesitation in rejecting designs if they become the cause of accidents and have technical shortcomings. Strong will-power, accountability and transparency should be observed while chalking out development schemes. Schemes should be chalked out and implemented with foresight.
Gadkari said that role of roads and civil engineers, is very vital in development of a country. He said that technical faults in construction of roads and bridges cause accidents. lakhs of people are killed in road accidents in the country. He urged engineers to identify measures to remove technical faults causing accidents. Gadkari stressed the need to work with will power to decrease cost of roads and improve their quality.
He said that habit should be developed to sanction and complete works within time-limit. Work should be undertaken with team spirit through quick decisions, positive view point, transparency and will power. Those who perform well should be rewarded and wrongdoers should be punished. He also stressed the need to give away awards of Best Farmer and Best Engineer at National level.
Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that better roads are foundation of prosperity and development. A network of roads has been laid in Madhya Pradesh. State's development has gained a new momentum due to construction of good roads. Business and industries have been boosted in the state due to construction of roads. Now, farmers can easily transport their produce to Mandis. State's agriculture growth rate has increased remarkably.
The State Government wishes that water of Narmada should also be flowed in Kali Sindh and Betwa rivers after completion of Narmada-Kshipra link Project. Network of roads is being laid under PPP mode. National highways and state highways are being expanded rapidly with maximum assistance from Central government. Remarkable work has also been done in construction of bridges and culverts in the State.
Mementoes were presented to senior engineers lR Badyani, BK Sinha, SS Sinha, DP Gupta, KK Sarin, NV Nirani, GD Rai, CV Kand and Sajjan Singh Nahar. Annual reports and souvenir of Indian Road Congress were also released. Mayor Malini Gaud, Principal Secretary PWD Pramod Agrawal and Engineer-in-Chief Akhilesh Agrawal were present on the occasion.