Amid top domain experts, decision makers and policy enablers, this mega event brought to the fore the pressing challenges facing the sector and offered many practical remedies, report Manas R Bastia and Shriyal Sethumadhavan.
´Move over policy paralysis and project clearance bottlenecks! It is time to get your priorities in order to build the nation´. That was the clear message from the 2nd India Construction Festival held on November 14 in New Delhi. And the timing couldn´t have been better with the Prime Minister´s Project Monitoring Group (PMG) just clearing 128 projects worth Rs 4 lakh crore.
In line with ASAPP Media Information Group´s continued endeavour to offer a meaningful platform for the construction and infrastructure sector, the India Construction Festival 2013 brought together leaders of this domain from across the country. This mega event began with the CONSTRUCTION WORLD Leadership Summit 2013.
In his welcome address, Pratap Vijay Padode, Editor-in-Chief and Managing Director of ASAPP Media Information Group, described the latest trends in the construction sector and offered a perspective on what should be done to spur growth while applauding the growing ´accountability quotient´ in the country. .
Dr Lalit Bhasin, President, Indo-American Chamber of Commerce, emphasised the need to accord infrastructure status to the construction sector, and dwelt upon an integrated approach to aid growth. And in his keynote address, Chief Guest Anil Swarup, Additional Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat, and Head, PMG, shared the figures on the projects cleared, saying, ´All clearances have been obtained including environmental and fuel supply agreements (FSAs). Going forward, the government and private sector need to play their respective roles and be realistic with a positive approach.´.
Themed ´Global Learnings and Glocalisation for the Indian Construction and Infrastructure Industry´, the summit was spread over six sessions and witnessed the participation of top government officials, policymakers and regulators, captains of construction companies, analysts and finance bigwigs as well as business delegations from foreign consulates. While bringing to the fore the techno-legal and financial challenges facing the sector, participants offered many practical remedies. Speakers emphasised that given the sound fundamentals and high demand for infra¡structure development, there will be heightened action in the near future..
In a special address, Gajendra Haldea, Advisor (Infra) to the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of India, stated that the target of $1 trillion investment in infrastructure is likely to be missed in the 12th Five-Year Plan. In his view, systemic flows need to be addressed to achieve an appropriate and even distribution of projects among developers by size. He called upon all the stakeholders to work on the basis of consensus, for instance while framing model con¡cession agreements (MCAs). The Planning Commission plans to revise the MCA for roads, often considered a bench¡mark, in coming months based on current industry experience.
The summit culminated in the evening with a glittering function comprising the 11th CONSTRUCTION WORLD Annual Awards and the 1st ANNUAL EQUIPMENT INDIA AWARDS. The latter awards for the equipment industry are the first of their kind in India. Anoop Kumar Mittal, Chairman & Managing Director, National Buildings Construction Corporation Ltd, presented the awards; the accolade of CEO of the Year went to Vipin Sondhi, Managing Director & CEO, JCB India.
Off-Highway Research India was the research partner for the EQUIPMENT INDIA AWARDS 2013. The sponsors for the CONSTRUCTION WORLD Annual Awards 2013 were Tata Projects, Larsen & Toubro, Roxul Rockwool, Sunil Hi- Tech Infra, Caterpillar and Exxon Mobil. As India continues its journey on the path of rapid urbanisation, industrialisation and economic development, India Construction Festival 2013 engaged its packed audience with dialogue, recommendations and leverage to stay ahead in the days to come.
Winners of 11th Annual Construction World Global Awards 2013 Construction CompaniesFastest Growing Construction Company (Large Category): Larsen & Toubro Second Fastest Growing Construction Company (Large Category): Jaiprakash Associates Third Fastest Growing Construction Company (Large Category): Afcons Infrastructure Fastest Growing Construction Company (Medium Category): Supreme Infrastructure India Second Fastest Growing Construction Company (Medium Category): Pratibha Industries Third Fastest Growing Construction Company (Medium Category): MBL Infrastructures Fastest Growing Construction Company (Small Category): Technofab Engineering Second Fastest Growing Construction Company (Small Category): J Kumar Infraprojects Third Fastest Growing Construction Company (Small Category): The Indian Hume Pipe Co. v Construction Equipment Companies Fastest Growing Construction Equipment Company: Ammann Apollo India Fastest Growing Allied Construction Equipment Company: Elgi Equipments Second Fastest Growing Allied Construction Equipment Company: Sandvik Asia Third Fastest Growing Allied Construction Equipment Company: Cummins India Building Material Companies Largest Cement Company: UltraTech Fastest Growing Cement Company (Large Category): Shree Cements Fastest Growing Cement Company (Small Category): Shree Digvijay Cement Co Largest Paint Company: Asian Paints (India) Fastest Growing Paint Company: Berger Paints India Largest Steel Company (Private Sector): Tata Steel Largest Steel Company (Public Sector): Steel Authority of India Fastest Growing Steel Company: Jindal Steel and Power Ltd Largest Tile, Ceramic & Sanitaryware Company Kajaria Ceramics Fastest Growing Tile, Ceramic & Sanitaryware Company: Kajaria Ceramics Largest Construction Equipment Company-JCB India Largest and Most Profitable Construction Company-Larsen & Toubro CW Man of the Year -OP Puranmalka, Whole Time Director, UltraTech Cement
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