Cement and steel companies are taking advantage of the system: Nitin Gadkari

11 Jun 2021 CW Team

The minister was speaking at the virtual MoU signing ceremony between IIT (BHU) Varanasi and GR Infraprojects Ltd for promoting industry academia collaborative research in pavement materials and construction. Using waste material for road construction is very important, avered Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, while addressing the audience today. “This is probably a first-of-its-kind MoU being signed by the private sector and an IIT in India,” said the minister, encouraging the use of waste materials for the construction of roads and highways.

The price of steel and cement is very much. “My request to the IITs is to research on how we can reduce the price of these in construction of roads. Let us follow the research of Germany, US, and European countries to see what they are doing,” the minister said.

“Through research, even if 20 per cent of the cost can be saved, we can save Rs 24 lakh crore out of the Rs 111 lakh crore NIP plan,” Gadkari highlighted.

He urged the use of materials such as fly-ash, plastic waste, geosynthetics, steel fibres, among others in highway construction. Citing the examples of Singapore and Malaysia, the minister said that these countries are suing precast with steel fibres for the piers of bridges.

“I am ready to use steel fibres; we do not need to use steel,” he said.

Similarly, using fly-ash in place of concrete can be a good thing.

The minister also urged IITs to publicise the research work being done by them and share it with the states and highway authority to help save cost of construction. “Using of fly-ash instead of concrete can be a great thing,” he avered. He also urged the IITs to increase their research on the basis of international practices.

Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari criticised cement and steel manufacturers for the increasing prices of these materials and hence the impact on construction. “People (cement and steel companies) are taking advantage of system, which is not correct. We need to take a stand on this issue,” he said. The minister also mentioned that MoRTH has set up a committee under the chairmanship of K Venkataramana of L&T to reduce the dependency on cement and steel and promote the use of alternative materials that will help reduce the cost of construction without compromising on the quality.The minister was speaking at the virtual MoU signing ceremony between IIT (BHU) Varanasi and GR Infraprojects Ltd for promoting industry academia collaborative research in pavement materials and construction. Using waste material for road construction is very important, avered Union Minister of Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, while addressing the audience today. “This is probably a first-of-its-kind MoU being signed by the private sector and an IIT in India,” said the minister, encouraging the use of waste materials for the construction of roads and highways.The price of steel and cement is very much. “My request to the IITs is to research on how we can reduce the price of these in construction of roads. Let us follow the research of Germany, US, and European countries to see what they are doing,” the minister said.“Through research, even if 20 per cent of the cost can be saved, we can save Rs 24 lakh crore out of the Rs 111 lakh crore NIP plan,” Gadkari highlighted.He urged the use of materials such as fly-ash, plastic waste, geosynthetics, steel fibres, among others in highway construction. Citing the examples of Singapore and Malaysia, the minister said that these countries are suing precast with steel fibres for the piers of bridges.“I am ready to use steel fibres; we do not need to use steel,” he said.Similarly, using fly-ash in place of concrete can be a good thing.The minister also urged IITs to publicise the research work being done by them and share it with the states and highway authority to help save cost of construction. “Using of fly-ash instead of concrete can be a great thing,” he avered. He also urged the IITs to increase their research on the basis of international practices.

Equipment

12 Dec 2025

Schwing Stetter India Unveils New Innovations at Excon 2025

Schwing Stetter India unveiled more than 20 new machines at Excon 2025, marking one of its most significant showcases and introducing several India-first technologies to the construction equipment sector. The company launched the country’s first 56-metre boom pump designed and manufactured in India, the first fully electric truck mixer, the first CNG mixer variant and the first hybrid boom pump. Executives said the launch portfolio was engineered to support India’s move toward faster, greener and more vertically oriented infrastructure through advanced engineering, clean-energy solutions a..

Infrastructure Energy

12 Dec 2025

SEPC Resolves Hindustan Copper Dispute, Wins Rs 725 Mn Order

Engineering, procurement and construction firm SEPC Ltd has recently settled a dispute with Hindustan Copper Ltd (HCL) and secured a mining infrastructure order valued at Rs 725 million from the state-owned company. SEPC informed the stock exchanges that it has executed a settlement deed with HCL, bringing closure to all inter-se claims and counterclaims arising from arbitration proceedings. As part of the settlement, SEPC will receive Rs 304.5 million as full and final payment, marking the resolution of all pending disputes between the two entities. The company also stated that Hindustan Co..

Infrastructure Energy

12 Dec 2025

20% Ethanol Blending Cuts India’s CO2 Emissions by 73.6 Mn Tonnes

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari recently said that India has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 73.6 million metric tonnes due to the adoption of 20 per cent ethanol blending in petrol. He made the statement while replying to supplementary questions during the Question Hour in the Lok Sabha. Describing ethanol as a green fuel, the minister said it plays a key role in reducing pollution while also supporting higher incomes for farmers. He underlined that ethanol blending contributes both to environmental sustainability and rural economic growth. Nitin Gadkari also po..