Road construction leaders launch RAHSTA Expo 2024 in Delhi
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways has constructed 12,349 km of national highways in 2023-24 - the second highest achievement! In 2020-21 a record 13,327 km had been constructed, the highest so far. The experience of a well-constructed road is no accident but a badly constructed one can cause many, stated Pratap Padode, Founder, FIRST Construction Council, a pioneering infrastructure-driven council focused on advancing India's infrastructure development. Padode was speaking at the launch of a road show - 14th RAHSTA Expo, which will be held from October 9-10, 2024, at Jio Convention Centre, Mumbai. 

RAHSTA, which stands for Roads and Highways Sustainable Technologies & Advancement, is a dedicated event to the world of road construction equipment, technology, and sustainability. 

Speaking at the launch, former Managing Director of Ashok Leyland & JCB, Vipin Sondhi, also Chairman of RAHSTA Expo Committee underscored the need for specialised platforms like RAHSTA Expo for the burgeoning road construction industry. 

He said, I believe the biggest opportunity in Indian infrastructure lies in road construction, which is evident to everyone. Over the last 10 years, there has been tremendous growth, and this trend is only going to accelerate. Thus, in terms of infrastructure, every stakeholder has an opportunity to contribute for the right reasons. Its a promising business opportunity and sustainable for decades to come. Ultimately, citizens will be the biggest beneficiaries.

AK Singh, CGM “ Finance, National Highway Authority of India, R K Pandey (former NHAI member and Member of RAHSTA Expo Committee), S K Nirmal (Secretary General, Indian Roads Congress, and Member of RAHSTA Expo Committee), Prof Satish Pandey, Principal Scientist, CSIR-Central Road Research, Ministry of Science and Technology, Ankit Jain, CFO, Cube Highways Growth Advisors, Vijay Agarwal, Executive Director, Equirus Capital and Subodh Dixit, Former Executive Director, Shapoorji Pallonji participated in a round table discussion on the new BOT proposals.

The launch function at PHD Chamber for RAHSTA Expo was attended by who's who of the infrastructure industry such Lt Gen Harpal Singh, (President, International Road Federation and former Engineer-in-Chief, Indian Army), Akhilesh Srivastava (Road Safety Ambassador, International Road Federation), Sandeep Singh (MD, Tata Hitachi Construction Machinery), Rajesh Menon (Director General, Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers), Raman Kapil, President, Tata Projects, Anand Sundaresan, Director, Ammann India, Dheeraj Panda, Managing Director, Ammann India, Rajan Aiyer, Managing Director, Trimble, Satin Sachdeva, Founder & Secretary General, Construction Equipment Rental Association, Dr Swamy, Chairman, The Institution of Civil Engineers and Dr Ranjeet Mehta (Executive Director of PHDCCI), among others.

I believe that the RAHSTA expo will benefit all stakeholders “ contractors, owners, lenders, and trade professionals such as architects and detailers “ by helping them understand the importance of these technologies in their respective fields and projects. I am eagerly anticipating active participation in the expo and the opportunity to share and gain knowledge on how construction can be enhanced using digital technologies, said Rajan Aiyer, Managing Director, Trimble.

We believe RAHSTA is the ideal platform for our presence, and we are confident in our participation in the upcoming expo scheduled for October, said Anand Sundaresan, Director, Ammann India. He added, We predominantly specialise in road construction machinery, such as asphalt plants, concrete batching plants, pavers, and rollers, among others. Additionally, we offer ancillary equipment like supers. With the government placing significant emphasis on infrastructure development, there is a substantial demand for road construction machinery. Particularly noteworthy is the growth witnessed in the last year (2023-2024), with a surge in orders. Moreover, the construction of airports is underway, necessitating equipment for runway construction. We perceive immense potential and opportunity for growth within the industry.

Said Vinod Kumar Yadav, Director “ Transport, NCC, and former Chairman, Railway Board, The RAHSTA expo will offer extensive information about the latest technology and methods for constructing high-quality roads. Currently, the challenge facing the roads industry is to uphold road quality and execute projects efficiently. RAHSTA will provide opportunities for everyone to learn about the latest worldwide technologies and equipment available, undoubtedly offering valuable insights to those involved in the roads sector.

I congratulate the RAHSTA committee for this very good initiative. I believe it will provide an excellent platform for capital goods, consultant firms, equipment companies, and technology firms to converge. This meets a crucial need within the industry. The event also benefits older industries, as new technology and equipment continuously enter the market. These advancements are often cost-effective and, at times, eco-friendly. Thus, this platform is poised to play a significant role, said Ashish Kumar Singh, CGM “ Finance, National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

As far as roads are concerned, over the last decade, we have accomplished wonderful work, and this progress will continue at the same pace. However, to maintain this momentum, we need to make some improvements and sustain the rate of construction. We must focus on cost optimisation, sustainable development, and, most importantly, building safe roads. Regarding RAHSTA, we require a platform where all stakeholders”including academia, researchers, consultants, and government authorities”can collaborate. RAHSTA will provide them with a platform to achieve our common goals, said RK Pandey, former NHAI member and Member of RAHSTA Expo Committee.

Organised by the FIRST Construction Council, the RAHSTA Expo 2024, which will be held as part of 10th India Construction Festival, will bring together industry leaders, innovators, and stakeholders for two days of exploration, collaboration, and transformation.

Besides RAHSTA Expo 2024, the India Construction Festival 2024 will include the following:
¢ 14th India RAHSTA (Roads) Conference
¢ 12th Equipment India Awards
¢ 22nd Construction World Global Awards

Exhibitors can use RAHSTA Expo 2024 to showcase their construction machinery, building material machines, mining machines, and construction vehicles to a targeted audience of industry professionals. RAHSTA Expo will be an ideal platform to connect with key decision-makers, generate leads, and grow business in this rapidly expanding market.

FOOTNOTE:
Contact:
For exhibitor enquiries (for RAHSTA Expo), contact Mr Sujoy on Mob: +91 86577 95881, or Email:

For delegate enquiries (for conferences), contact Mr Amar on Mob: +91 86524 93000, or Email: