Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari inaugurated the two-day 'Chintan Shivir 2026 – A National Conclave on Highway Infrastructure' at Tent City 2, Statue of Unity, Ekta Nagar, Narmada District, Gujarat on October 5, 2026. The conclave, held under the motto 'Gatishakti se Pragati', brings together Transport and PWD Ministers from States, senior officials of State PWDs, implementing agencies, and other stakeholders to deliberate on key issues concerning highway development, project implementation, and infrastructure delivery.
Minister Gadkari emphasized that the platform enables Centre and States to share field-level experiences and work toward practical solutions for emerging challenges in highway development. He stressed that highway development must focus on quality, safety, speed, and world-class standards, with greater emphasis on advance planning and preparedness at the Detailed Project Report stage including proper surveys, alignment planning, land acquisition, utility shifting, and timely statutory clearances to minimize delays and avoid cost escalation.
The Minister highlighted that road safety must be integrated into highway planning and project design from the beginning, with identification of accident-prone locations and incorporation of appropriate safety interventions during planning and construction stages. He underscored the importance of modern highways for providing seamless connectivity between cities, towns, ports, markets, and industrial centers to support trade, investment, employment, and overall economic activity.
The two-day conclave features thematic sessions covering PM GatiShakti and integrated infrastructure planning; Land Acquisition and Bhoomi Rashi; Model Concession Agreements and Ratings; Designing Safe Highways and Green Highways; Road Safety and Toll Reform; and Quality Assurance and Project Monitoring. Gadkari called for wider adoption of new technologies, innovative construction practices, and cost-effective materials to improve quality and reduce construction and maintenance costs.
Sustainability and environmental responsibility formed a key component of the agenda, with emphasis on environment-friendly construction practices and greater use of innovative and recycled materials while ensuring appropriate measures for environmental and wildlife protection. A document on Environment & Wildlife Mitigation Measures was launched during the inaugural session, along with a BRICS Compendium on Perspectives in Sustainable Transport that adds an international dimension to the deliberations.
Technology-driven reforms including FASTag Annual Pass and Multi-Lane Free Flow (MLFF) were highlighted as initiatives to improve efficiency and convenience of highway travel, modernize tolling systems, improve traffic movement, and enhance overall highway user experience. The conclave aims to strengthen project planning and monitoring, improve highway quality and safety, promote sustainable infrastructure, and accelerate delivery of future-ready highway infrastructure in line with the vision of Viksit Bharat.