Gadkari Pushes For Modern Tunnelling Technologies To Reduce Capital Expenditure

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari underlined the need to adopt modern tunnelling technologies in India, saying that the huge capital cost involved can be reduced without compromising safety.

The minister said that by developing smart cities, roadway amenities and other facilities near tunnels, revenue generation can be increased.

Addressing an international webinar on ‘Road Tunnel Recent Trends, Innovations & Way Forward’ through video conferencing, Gadkari highlighted the need to create “tunnels and immersed tunnels under the rivers and sea using pre-cast technology”.

Gadkari urged the stakeholders to come up with cost-effective and modern technologies for tunnelling to reduce capital expenditure without compromising safety aspects.

Emphasising the need to adopt best practices from across the globe, the minister said that national highways in India run to a length of 1.37 lakh kilometers, and carry over 40 per cent of the total traffic across the length and breadth of the country.

Speaking at the webinar, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, General (Retd) V K Singh said that the ministry is taking measures to build tunnels to facilitate access to places that get cut off due to bad weather, and during winters.

The webinar was hosted by Indian Roads Congress, Ministry for Road Transport and Highways and World Road Organization.