Minister of State for Road, Transport & Highways and Corporate Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, underscored the transformative role of infrastructure at the 233rd Mid-Term Council Meeting of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), held at Mizoram University Campus in Aizawl on Monday.
Addressing the gathering, Malhotra said, “Infrastructure is not just about concrete and steel—it is the foundation of economic growth, the pathway to prosperity, and the symbol of the Prime Minister’s vision for Viksit Bharat by 2047.”
He emphasised that a strong and well-developed road network significantly boosts regional prosperity, calling it a “socio-economic catalyst” in India’s growth trajectory. The event was attended by Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Cabinet Minister Vanlalhlana, and Member of Parliament Richard Vanlalhmangaiha.
Malhotra shared that in the past 11 years, the length of National Highways in India has increased by more than 60%, rising from 91,000 km in 2014 to approximately 1.47 lakh km today. Highlighting the North East’s progress, he noted, “Nearly 10,000 km of National Highways have been constructed in the region at a cost of over Rs1.07 lakh crore, greatly improving connectivity to remote and border areas.”
Calling for the adoption of global best practices, the Minister stressed the need to reduce construction costs without compromising quality. “The focus should be on sustainable development practices. The need of the hour is eco-friendly methodologies and cutting-edge construction technology for road building,” he added.
He lauded the Indian Roads Congress for its multi-dimensional contributions to road development, bringing together experts from central and state governments, the Army’s engineering services, and the Border Roads Organisation.
Malhotra highlighted the IRC’s pivotal role in setting quality and safety standards for road and bridge construction in India and reiterated that infrastructure will remain central to achieving the Prime Minister’s goal of a developed, inclusive, and globally competitive India by 2047.