*Inaugurates Indian Road Congress session
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, June 25: Stressing upon the need of introducing green and clean technologies, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari today emphasised upon maintaining balance between development, ecology and environment.
“There is a need to maintain balance between development and environment and ecology,” Gadkari said while inaugurating the 206th Council meeting of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) at the Sher-i-Kashmir International Convention Centre here.
The Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping appreciated the role played by IRC in development of roads and highways in the country and stressed upon the need to implement research findings at ground level.
He also stressed upon the importance of introducing green and clean technologies in order to minimise adverse effects on ecology and environment as a result of development.
“A positive and development-oriented approach is necessary to achieve the goal of fast-paced development in the country,” Gadkari said, adding progress is not possible unless the values of a positive work culture are imbibed by one and all.
He called upon all stakeholders to promote innovation and local expertise to meet challenges and also put up a strong case for appreciation of efforts of those who perform well.
Such instances will prove as an inspiration for others and will motivate them to put in their best, the Minister said.
Emphasizing on completion of projects within the stipulated time frame, the Minister said thousands cost overrun projects are cropping because of wrong policies and asked the audience to apply positive, developmental and fast track decision making approach to check this tendency. He said cost of construction needs to be minimized but cautioned that the quality of work should not be compromised.
State Government Minister for Public Works, Syed Altaf Bukhari, while speaking on the occasion said that State of Jammu and Kashmir is also a beneficiary of the prescriptions/manuals of IRC and its latest code. He said the State Government will be a part of the IRC and its endeavours in setting new standards and specifications in roads, bridges, runways, tunnels and allied infrastructure.
The Minister said that PWD is handling around 32000 km of road length in the varied topography of the State. He said BRO, SAMPARK, BEACON, VIJAYAK and HIMANK are contributing their lot in the State.
Altaf Bukhari said that generous funding of projects by Centre has helped the State in providing road connectivity to unconnected and inaccessible habitations. He said that Central has in principal approved few vital tunnel projects for the state, as revealed by the BRO authorities, adding this will give all weather connectivity to remote and high altitude areas of the State.
Rohit Kansal, Commissioner Secretary, Public Works Department, Government of J&K, expressed hope that the participants of this meeting will prove as brand ambassadors for the state and holding of such events will help bring tourists back to the state after last year’s devastating floods.
Earlier in the session, President IRC Dr Mahesh Kumar threw light on the mandate of IRC and gave a presentation on how the organisation has evolved since its inception. Around 100 delegates from across the country are taking part in the two day event.
Delivering the vote of thanks, Anil Kumar, Vice President IRC said that India has the biggest road development network in the world, and under the guidance of Nitin Gadkari, IRC would continue to put in its best efforts towards growth of the country.
The Union Minister along with other dignitaries also released 14 IRC documents and codes of practice on the occasion.
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