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The Indian Government has set out plans to award highway projects worth at least US$8.84 billion during the next fiscal year. These projects will be offered under the hybrid annuity model, according to a report in the Economic Times. KPMG has stated that some 21 projects for a total of 1,500km and worth close to a third of that sum will be granted by the Indian Government in the current fiscal year. India’s Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sought budgetary support from the Ministry of Finance an

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has set a target to lay 15,000km of roads during 2016/17, according to a government source. The target means that around 40km of roads will be paved each day - two times the current figure, according to the business magazine Steel Guru. The National Highways and Industrial Development Corporation’s target is 7,000km and that of the National Highways Authority of India is 8,000km. The NHIDCL will award national highway contracts covering 10,000km and the N

Major highway projects have been given approval in India. The work is worth some US$667.12 million in all. The projects are for new highways in Himachal State and Uttar Pradesh State. The new highways have been approved as part of the fourth stage of India’s National Highways Development Project. The first of these new highways will see land being acquired, along with rehabilitation and resettlement plus the construction of a total of 128km of roads. This includes the main highway itself plus the access roa

Hitex International Group, a UK global provider of road safety and surfacing solutions, has partnered with Trans Metalite India, a New Delhi-based supplier of highway infrastructure solutions.“Metalite Hitex Group has been formed to meet the often complex difficulties facing India’s highway infrastructure network,” said Finn Goff, group commercial director at Hitex International Group. “Together we will focus on developing cost effective Indian solutions to Indian problems rather than trying to implement pr

$14 billion awarded in the national highway sector of which around $4 billion will be for small roads in rural areas. Makers of small construction equipment should take a closer look at the Indian market given the government’s focus on rural roads. During its bauma Forum presentation, Anand Sundaresan, president of the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers’ Association (ICEMA), said there is an urgent need for equipment suited to small projects. These include breakers and small pavers of around

Recycling is undoubtedly a key issue for the asphalt sector, with recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) now considered a valuable commodity in some markets. Swiss-based Ammann is one of the technological leaders in the asphalt plant sector as well as being among the industry leaders in developing asphalt recycling solutions.

Balkrishna Industries (BKT) has entered the market for rigid dumper truck tyres with its new SR 45 Plus 2.7m diameter radial tyre. On show for the first time at bauma, the tyre has all steel casing for stability and resistance to cuts, tears and abrasions. The tread is designed for self-cleaning as well as the minimisation of vibration and noise, says DM Vaidya, president and director of technology at BKT. The tyre is the first product from the company's new purpose-built factory in Bhuj, India.

The Fayat Group is developing its operations, with a greater focus on international operations a key direction for this French firm. Jean-Claude Fayat, president of the Fayat Group, said, “It’s important for us to be a family company. We have three values, autonomy, commitment and audacity.” Being a family-owned business has allowed the firm to respond quickly to changes in market demand - the board of directors can make decisions and implement them whereas publicly-owned firms have to involve shareholde

According to a new report from Timetric’s Construction Intelligence Center (CIC), the global construction industry is gradually regaining strength. This comes after a prolonged period of sluggishness in the wake of the global financial crisis. In real terms, the global industry is expected to have reached US$8.5 trillion in 2015, up from US$7.5 trillion in 2010. Over the forecast period (2016-2020) the pace of expansion will accelerate to an annual average of 3.4%, with the industry reaching a value of US$1

French firm Egis is reporting improved group performance with its latest financial results. In 2015, the Group’s managed turnover amounted to €937 million, up 10% compared with 2014 (€854 million). This growth can be attributed to acquisitions which account for approximately 6%, but it is also due to business development: 4% excluding scope effects. Following a drop in 2014, the order intake for engineering has resumed an upward trend. It represented 14 months of business in 2015, taking the order book t

Major road widening projects for Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand have been awarded by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Local construction company PNC Infratech will widen key routes in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. One of the projects will be to widen a 102km stretch of the Nagina-Kashipur section of NH-74 00 to four lanes. The contract is worth some US$174.2 million.

Work has started on road projects worth about US$4.5 billion in the Indian state of Maharashtra. Projects include a flyover connecting Pune Naka and Sat Rasta Chowk, as well as the four-laning of four roads, namely NH-13, NH 150E, NH-166 and NH9. Meanwhile, within the coming year, nearly 700km of in the state of Tamil Nadu are to be upgraded and transferred to the National Highways Authority, according to a report in SteelGuru. The list of roads is expected to be handed to the Ministry of Road Tran

A flyover has collapsed in the Indian city of Kolkata. Reports from the local press suggest 14 fatalities and upwards of 150 people being trapped in the wreckage. The Times of India reports that the flyover was under construction at the time of its collapse and the reason for the structural failure has yet to be determined. The flyover is located in a densely populated area in the north of the city and the death toll looks likely to climb.

Road construction equipment manufacturers show bullish business sentiment at 2015 Excon - Partha Pratim Basistha writes. The eighth edition of Excon, South Asia’s largest construction equipment and technology fair, took place at Bengaluru International Exhibition Centre from 25-29th November 2015 at Karnataka in South India. The event featured over 850 exhibitors, including 275 from overseas. Buoyed by the Indian government’s ambitious plan to develop a 50,000km road network during next five years, road con

The global market for construction aggregates is projected to advance to 51.7 billion tonnes in 2019, representing an annual growth rate of 5.2%, according to a new study by the Freedonia Group.

The European construction equipment market is performing relatively well in global terms. However striking regional disparities remain, according to the Annual Economic Report for 2016 from the European construction equipment manufacturing association, CECE. Data from the report shows that excluding Russia, the European market for construction machines grew by 3.5% in 2015 and it forecasts a slight increase in business for 2016.

India to lead the pack in bitumen consumption - Partha Pratim Basistha reports from the Asian Bitumen Conference. In the emerging global bitumen market, demand is expected to reach 122 million tonnes by 2018. Increasing road construction activities in the fast growing markets of India and China will be the main growth drivers of the bitumen market in Asia. This was the message delivered at the 10th Asian Bitumen Conference held in New Delhi, India from 23rd-24th November 2015. The two-day event, organised b

As part of the 27th road safety week, IRF organised a two-day seminar in New Delhi (January 14th -15th) to raise political awareness about, and support for, initiatives to improve road safety The seminar with the theme “Road Safety – Time for Action” was chaired by Sanjay Mitra, Secretary Road Transport and Highways (RTH), of the Government of India. K K Kapila, chairman IRF – GPC, highlighted recent IRF initiatives (black spot removal, training of drivers to provide first aid to accident victims at acci

The planning process for a major tunnel project in India now looks set to be delayed. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) cancelled the bid process for the US$1.46 billionn Zozila tunnel project on National Highway 1 in Jammu & Kashmir. IRB Infrastructure Developers in India had previously received a letter of award (LoA) to perform construction, operation and maintenance on the tunnel on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (annuity) basis. No reason was given for the cancellation

Year end results for Comer Industries showed revenue down at €327 million, a 9.4% dip from €361 million for fiscal year 2014. However, the company reported that excluding the sale of the electric wheel product line in January last year, the revenue drop would have been 5%. Comer Industries is based in Reggiolo, Italy and has around 1,240 employees. It designs and manufactures advanced engineering systems and mechatronic solutions for power transmission for major producers of agricultural and industrial ma