NEW DELHI: Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari on Sunday urged the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and technology experts to find ways to reduce the use of steel and cement for road construction “to teach a lesson” to the “sophisticated cartel” by a few who have been jacking up prices.
Addressing a convention of the IRC, Gadkari said, “This is the time for the country to teach a lesson to the people who are creating cartels to increase prices artificially and are exploiting the poor, governments and the country for their benefits. This is not in the interest of the nation. We need to take some innovative actions to stop them from doing this. I suggest you take steps to reduce the use of cement and steel in road construction.”
The minister has been openly speaking against steel manufacturing majors and big cement players for the spike in prices. Gadkari said the rise in price is handiwork of a “sophisticated cartel” to take advantage even as the contractor, government agencies and small players are facing problems and projects are becoming unviable.
Gadkari also said he recently went through a presentation by Reliance Industries on the use of synthetic fibre for road, bridge construction and for repair works. “I made it clear that before we approve the use of this material, they have to sign a rate contract with my ministry and state governments. I told them it’s not good that they will increase the price after we give approval,” the minister said.
He asked the IRC to ensure more use of modified bitumen, a mix of bitumen with plastic and rubber waste, to bring down the construction cost. Gadkari said there is a need to see that the guidelines framed by the IRC are implemented on the ground.