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The Indian Chamber of Commerce marked its centenary with the India Infrastructure Summit in New Delhi, uniting policymakers, industry leaders, and investors to chart India's infrastructure future. Union Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted roadways as the fastest-growing segment, with 25 Greenfield Expressways spanning 10,000 km under construction at an investment of INR 5 lakh crore. He stressed innovation through waste-to-road methods, green fuels, and electric mobility, aligning growth with sustainability. NHAI officials noted average highway construction of 35 km per day, 50,000 km completed, and 15,000 km underway, supported by AI and drone monitoring. The summit reinforced infrastructure as the backbone of Atmanirbhar Bharat, blending growth with environmental responsibility.
The Indian Chamber of Commerce, celebrating its centenary year, convened the India Infrastructure Summit in New Delhi, bringing together stakeholders from government, industry, and investment communities. The discussions centred on policy frameworks, partnerships, financing, sustainability, and technological adoption in shaping India's future infrastructure strategy. Advertisement
Reinforcing the government's commitment, the Union Budget had allocated INR 2.85 lakh crore (USD 34.5 billion) to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, reflecting its role in driving the country's growth. In his keynote address, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari stated that infrastructure formed the backbone of national progress and that road infrastructure was currently the fastest-growing segment. He emphasised that 25 Greenfield Expressways covering 10,000 kilometres were under construction with an investment of INR 5 lakh crore. He further explained that innovations such as the use of city waste in road construction, green fuels, electric mobility, and vehicle scrappage policy were being promoted. The minister stressed that development and environmental protection must move in parallel, guided by the principles of People, Prosperity, and Planet.
The session on emerging trends and future strategies featured contributions from National Highways Authority of India representatives. Sunil Jindal, Chief General Manager (Technical), outlined that in the past decade NHAI had significantly expanded its capacity, with spending rising sevenfold and construction averaging 35 kilometres per day. He noted that over 50,000 kilometres of highways and 830 projects had been completed, with a further 15,000 kilometres and 460 projects underway. Jindal added that sustainability, safety, and efficiency were at the forefront, with technology-led solutions such as waste-to-road methods, drone-based monitoring, AI-driven construction, and advanced traffic management systems forming part of the transformation.
Opening the summit, Archit Agarwal, Chair of the National Infrastructure Committee at ICC, remarked that infrastructure had become the backbone of the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative by building strong physical, digital, and energy networks that reduced reliance on imports. He highlighted that with initiatives such as the National Infrastructure Pipeline, PM Gati Shakti, and green financing, the sector was moving towards greater resilience, sustainability, and digital integration. He added that the sector was poised to act as not just a facilitator of growth but also a driver of self-reliance.
The India Infrastructure Summit served as a comprehensive platform to evaluate policies, financing models, and innovative strategies while underscoring the balance between growth and sustainability. With the government's substantial investment, NHAI's transformative initiatives, and industry collaboration, India is positioning its infrastructure sector as a globally competitive and environmentally conscious driver of economic development.
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