The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) brought together various stakeholders to facilitate better understanding of issues related to road development and road safety at the first conclave of Highway Managers’ Forum in Noida on Friday.
Senior officials from road construction departments from different States, officers from the Ministry and National Highways Authority of India, academics, contracting and consulting agencies and researchers from across the country brainstormed in a day-long meeting to strengthen efforts towards development of roads and highways.
Speaking at the conclave, MoRTH secretary Vijay Chibber said, “This forum will provide the much-needed platform for sharing ideas, experiences, knowledge and developments in the field of transport and highways among various stakeholders.”
“We need perspectives from key players in this sector so that required synergy could be developed towards development of efficient and safe road network,” he said.
Chibber said that the Highways Managers’ Forum key objectives will be to ideate on road development and road safety issues. “The idea is to provide a platform to discuss ways for capacity building and adoption of new and innovative technologies. We also needed a common space to discuss policies and programmes of the Centre, State and NHAI,” he said.
Chibber also said that since the road sector was complex and directly and indirectly contributed to the growth of the country. He also said that a strong push and constructive thinking was needed to revive the sector, which is witnessing a slump phase.
“Growth in the road sector has been slow paced in the past few years. Both public and private stakeholders are involved directly or indirectly in the highway development,” said Chibber.
“Several actions of these stakeholders are complementary and supplementary to each other in achieving speedy and effective development in this sector. This is also the need of the hour,” he said.