Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari called on the construction equipment industry to embrace sustainability, indigenous innovation, and green technologies during his address at the ICEMA Annual Session 2025 held in New Delhi.
Speaking to key stakeholders, Gadkari emphasized the urgent need for the sector to adopt clean fuels, electrification, and automation to align with India’s broader infrastructure and climate goals. “We must focus on biofuels, LNG, CNG, and electric-powered machinery to reduce carbon emissions and import dependency,” he stated, urging manufacturers to increase R&D and invest in Make-in-India capabilities.
Gadkari also encouraged the adoption of circular economy principles, such as reusing materials and improving efficiency across the construction value chain. Highlighting the rapid growth of infrastructure projects under the Bharatmala and PM Gati Shakti schemes, he stressed the vital role of the construction equipment industry in meeting the ambitious targets of road and highway development.
The Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers Association (ICEMA), which represents leading OEMs and technology providers, welcomed Gadkari’s vision and reiterated its commitment to driving innovation, digitization, and sustainability.
The session concluded with a call for stronger industry-government collaboration to transform India into a global hub for next-gen construction machinery and sustainable engineering.
