The RAHSTA Forum 2025, held on June 25 at Courtyard by Marriott, Mumbai, delivered powerful insights and dialogue on the future of India’s roads and highways sector. Organised by the FIRST Construction Council, the Forum served as the curtain-raiser to the much-anticipated RAHSTA Expo 2025, set to take place on 3rd and 4th September at the Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai.Union Minister of Roads Transport & Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, while appreciating the efforts of FIRST Construction Council and ASAPP Info Global Group, commended the awards which recognise excellence across various segments of construction, infrastructure, quality benchmarks and best practices and lauded the efforts in creating awareness on multiple aspects of nation building.The RAHSTA Forum took place in conjunction with the Construction Technology Summit, bringing together policymakers, contractors, technologists, and investors to deliberate on sustainable construction practices, technology integration, and transformative trends shaping India’s infra journey.Inaugurating the RAHSTA Forum, Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST Construction Council, delivered a keynote highlighting the recent infusion of technology in national defence, growing high rate of adoption of digital construction along with benefits being recognised in precast, 3D printing, 5D BIM, Geospatial and project management among others.Padode underlined India’s shift from labour-intensive construction to mechanised and digitally-driven processes, citing dramatic growth in the equipment industry—from under 5,000 units in 2003 to over 1,40,000 units in FY2025.Lt Gen Rajeev Chaudhary (Retd), Former Director General, Border Roads Organisation and Chairman of the RAHSTA Committee, described the RAHSTA Expo as “India’s Maha Kumbh of construction.”He added, “Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has acknowledged Mr Padode’s initiative. This Expo brings everything together—products, equipment, innovations, and recognition.” He remarked, “I urge all of you to attend the RAHSTA Expo. Already 10,000+ have registered. Come, share ideas, and grow. That’s how progress happens—through collaboration, through collective energy.”Sudhir Hoshing, Chief Mentor, IRB Infrastructure and RAHSTA Committee Member, reflected on the evolution of construction tech over his four-decade-long career. “From manual bitumen mixing to AI-powered drones and digital twins, I’ve seen it all. And I can confidently say—the future is already here,” he said.Hoshing highlighted the challenges still faced on ground—from utility relocations to unsustainable project bids—and urged startups to collaborate with on-ground contractors to understand real-world bottlenecks.Dr Zafar Khan, Executive Director and Joint CEO, Highways Infrastructure Trust, said, “Over the past five to six years, road developers have begun monetising assets. Investors like us are now managing these roads for decades.” He lauded government initiatives like Network Survey Vehicles (NSVs) and drone-based monitoring, but noted that greater transparency often meets resistance in the sector.“We evaluated 120 HAM projects last year—and only acquired 10. About 40 per cent of the others failed FWD tests just after completion. Everyone’s rushing to claim annuities, but we’re compromising quality,” he warned.Participants include: Caterpillar, Terex India, MRF Tyres, LiuGong, Electrotherm, REPOS Energy, Fruilsider, Fluid And Power Automations, Classic RMC & Infrastructure India, Zhejiang Zhongjian Road and Bridge Machinery, Jhaveri Polyfilm Industries, Astral ITES, Kataline Infra-Products, Highbond Coatings, Scon Infra Prestress, Concrete Additives & Chemicals, Millenium Rubber Technologies, Imon Technologies, Kaushik Engineering Works, Maruti Composite, Suntech Geotextile, SKD Composite, Ginnie Spectra, Hindustan Road Equipment, Orafol, Graphias Solutions, Aeroscan Technology, Shri Bajrang Power And Ispat (Goel Pipes), Acme Safety Wears, Technobit Industries, Aadi Industries, Vishal Sales, Alcolite India Road Safety, Prima Plastic, and others.RAHSTA Expo will be an ideal platform to connect with key decision-makers, generate leads, and grow business in this rapidly expanding market.