The future of India’s roads took centrestage at RAHSTA Expo 2026, where policymakers, contractors and industry leaders came together under one roof. The event blended thought leadership, technology showcase and industry recognition into a single powerful platform.

India’s roads and highways community gathered in full strength at the Jio World Convention Centre, Mumbai, for the 16th edition of the RAHSTA Expo (Roads and Highways Sustainable Technologies & Advancement). Over two action-packed days, the event brought together policymakers, contractors, consultants, developers, equipment manufacturers, material suppliers, technology providers and investors to deliberate on the future of India’s ,infrastructure while showcasing the latest innovations driving the sector.

The event culminated in the prestigious RAHSTA Awards, where Shri. Ajay Tamta, Union Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, felicitated organisations and professionals for their outstanding contributions to road construction, engineering, safety, sustainability and technology. With leading contractors, senior government officials, industry veterans and technology providers under one roof, the event reaffirmed RAHSTA’s position as one of India’s most influential platforms for the roads, highways, bridges and tunnels ecosystem.

Organised by FIRST Construction Council in association with ASAPP Info Global Group, RAHSTA has steadily evolved beyond an exhibition into a platform where policy, technology, engineering and business converge to address the opportunities and challenges shaping India’s next generation of transport infrastructure.

Beyond expansion, towards value

The conference opened with a thought-provoking address by Pratap Padode, Founder and Editor-in-Chief, Construction World, who observed that India’s highways sector has reached an important inflection point. Introducing this year’s theme – ‘From Expansion to Value: The Next Phase of India’s Highways’ – he noted that while the country has successfully expanded its road network over the past two decades, the industry’s priorities are now shifting towards building infrastructure that delivers greater lifecycle value, durability, safety and operational efficiency. With funding pressures, asset monetisation and evolving project models changing the sector’s dynamics, he said the focus must now move beyond kilometres constructed to the quality and long-term performance of every asset.

Dr Brijesh Dixit, Managing Director, Maharashtra State Infrastructure Development Corporation (MSIDC), reminded delegates that successful infrastructure delivery is ultimately a collective effort. Emphasising on collaboration between government, industry and engineering professionals, he remarked, “There is no loser in a winning team, and there is no winner in a losing team,” urging stakeholders to work together to deliver projects with quality, financial sustainability and technological excellence.

Delivering the keynote address, Bidur Kant Jha, Director, New Technologies for Highway Development, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), outlined the Government’s long-term vision for India’s highway network. Highlighting the country’s 6.26 million km roads network, he spoke about the growing adoption of digital planning tools such as BIM and GIS, bridge health monitoring systems and Integrated Smart Transport Corridors under the Vision 2047 roadmap. He emphasised that while India remains open to global innovations, every new technology must be adapted to Indian conditions before large-scale deployment.

Addressing the gathering during the awards ceremony, Tamta underlined the increasing role of specialised equipment and modern construction technologies in executing complex infrastructure projects across diverse terrains. Referring to challenging tunnel projects in Uttarakhand, he noted how advanced machinery has transformed execution capabilities, while also acknowledging the rapid evolution of Indian contractors into globally competitive infrastructure companies. Recognising excellence through industry awards, he said, motivates organisations to continually raise performance standards and embrace innovation.

Meanwhile, Dr Sanjay Mukherjee, IAS, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA, highlighted that infrastructure development must increasingly focus on integrated urban mobility. Reflecting on Mumbai’s engineering journey – from its historic underground utility network to the Coastal Road and other transformative projects – he underlined that future infrastructure planning must seamlessly integrate roads, metro systems and public transport to create efficient, multimodal cities.

Uttar Pradesh takes centrestage

One of the highlights of the second day was Uttar Pradesh’s comprehensive presentation on its infrastructure-led industrial transformation.

Srihari Pratap Shahi, IAS, Additional CEO, Uttar Pradesh Expressways Industrial Development Authority (UPEIDA), demonstrated how the state’s expanding expressway network is evolving into a catalyst for industrial development through integrated manufacturing and logistics clusters. Expressways, he noted, are no longer merely transport corridors but engines of economic competitiveness.

Building on this narrative, Deeksha Jain, IAS, Additional Chief Executive Officer, Uttar Pradesh State Industrial Development Authority (UPSIDA), showcased the state’s rapidly expanding industrial ecosystem supported by extensive expressway connectivity, dedicated freight corridors, airports, industrial townships and investor-friendly policies. She highlighted Uttar Pradesh’s strong manufacturing growth, expanding industrial land bank, plug-and-play infrastructure and increasing use of digital governance to facilitate investments.

Further underlining the significance of the platform, Deepak Kumar, IAS, Infrastructure & Industrial Development Commissioner, Government of Uttar Pradesh, remarked, “RAHSTA provides an excellent platform for states to showcase our infrastructure progress and investment ecosystem. Uttar Pradesh has transformed significantly over the past decade, backed by more than 34 investor-friendly industrial policies, and platforms like RAHSTA help communicate these developments to industry stakeholders from across the country.”

Ideas that shaped the industry conversation

The two-day conference featured seven panel discussions, each examining a critical dimension of India’s evolving roads and highways sector.

The opening discussion on ‘Financing Roads & Highways in a Capital-Constrained Era’ brought together experts from Cube Highways, NIIF, SBI Capital Markets, Centrum Capital and Bandhan Infra Fund, who examined how the financing landscape is changing. Discussions revolved around asset monetisation, InvITs, institutional investments and new funding structures, with panellists agreeing that better project preparation, transparent governance and predictable returns will be crucial for attracting long-term capital into infrastructure.

Attention then shifted to execution realities during the panel on ‘Contractors’ Perspective: Execution Realities, Risks & the Quality Imperative.’ Representatives from GHV Infra Projects, PNC Infratech, NCC and Maccaferri candidly discussed the challenges of delivering projects amid contractual complexities, land acquisition delays, rising costs and tight timelines. While execution pressures remain significant, the discussion reinforced that better collaboration across the project value chain is essential for achieving both speed and quality.

Day 2 opened with a technically rich discussion on ‘Designing Roads for Sustainability, Durability & Climate Resilience’. Experts from CSIR-CRRI, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, Zydex Group and SRMB Steel explored advanced pavement technologies, recycled materials, climate-resilient designs and scientific construction practices that can significantly improve durability while lowering lifecycle costs. Sustainability, they agreed, must become an integral part of road design rather than an afterthought.

The subsequent session on ‘Bridges & Tunnels: Complex Engineering, Safety & Future Readiness’ highlighted the growing complexity of India’s infrastructure projects. Panellists discussed advances in structural engineering, digital monitoring, risk management and safety practices that are enabling the successful delivery of increasingly ambitious bridge and tunnel projects across the country.

Technology remained a recurring theme during the discussion on ‘Technology as a Risk-Mitigation Tool for Developers & Investors’. Experts explained how AI, BIM, drones, predictive analytics, digital twins and intelligent monitoring systems are helping improve project planning, minimise execution risks, strengthen quality assurance and enhance asset management throughout the infrastructure lifecycle.

The construction equipment panel brought together leading industry experts to examine how technology, sustainability and digitalisation are redefining construction equipment in an era of rising cost pressures. Discussions centred on enhancing productivity, reducing lifecycle costs and preparing the industry for India’s infrastructure ambitions leading up to 2047.

The conference concluded with an engaging CXO Forum on ‘Rebuilding Confidence in India’s Roads & Highways Sector’, where senior industry leaders emphasised that stronger governance, better project preparation, digitalisation, transparent contracting and closer public-private collaboration will be essential to sustain India’s infrastructure growth over the coming decades.

Technology and recognition under one roof

Beyond the conference halls, RAHSTA Expo reflected the technological transformation underway across India’s road infrastructure ecosystem. Leading equipment manufacturers, technology companies and material suppliers showcased advanced construction equipment, intelligent digital platforms, pavement technologies, structural materials and productivity-enhancing solutions designed to improve project efficiency and asset performance. The exhibition created valuable opportunities for contractors, consultants, government agencies and project developers to evaluate new technologies while interacting directly with solution providers.

The event also served as a celebration of excellence through the RAHSTA Awards 2026, which recognised outstanding achievements across road construction, contracting, materials, equipment, technology, safety, sustainability and infrastructure development. Presented by Minister Tamta, the awards honoured organisations that are setting new benchmarks for quality, innovation and execution across India’s roads sector.

RAHSTA Expo 2026 also received extensive support from across the infrastructure ecosystem. Alongside leading corporate sponsors, the event was backed by industry bodies including the Builders Association of India (BAI), Construction Equipment Rental Association (CERA), Consulting Engineers Association of India (CEAI), International Road Federation (IRF), CSIR-CRRI, CILT India, All India Transporters Welfare Association, Hydraulic Trailer Owners Association (HTOA), Gujarat Contractors Association, Bitumen Forum, Fluid Power Society of India, Indian Institute of Material Management, Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Gati Shakti Vishwavidyalaya and Mumbai First, reflecting the industry’s collective commitment to advancing India’s road infrastructure.

As the curtains came down on the two-day event, one message resonated throughout the conference: India’s highways story is entering a new chapter. While expansion will continue, the future will increasingly be defined by smarter planning, stronger partnerships, digital transformation, sustainable engineering and long-term value creation. By bringing together the entire infrastructure value chain on a single platform, RAHSTA Expo 2026 once again demonstrated why it has become one of the country’s most influential forums for shaping the future of roads, highways, bridges and tunnels.

Strapline: Fornnax Technology has appointed NOBA Maschinenservice’s Lukas Baur as its authorised service partner for the European Union, strengthening its commitment to delivering fast, reliable, and localised after-sales support across the region.

Fornnax Technology, a leading manufacturer of industrial shredding solutions, has announced the appointment of Mr. Lukas Baur of NOBA Maschinenservice as its authorised service partner for the European Union. The partnership, formalised under the authorisation of Fornnax CEO Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, reinforces the company’s commitment to providing dependable, localised service support to its expanding customer base across Europe.

Strengthening Service Through Proven Expertise

With over two decades of experience in servicing, maintaining, and overhauling industrial shredders, Mr. Baur brings extensive technical expertise to the partnership. His capabilities span welding, hardfacing, shaft and knife rebuilding, complex assembly, hydraulics, and complete electrical engineering services, delivered in collaboration with a trusted partner company based in Halle/Saale.

Operating from Worbis, Germany, Mr. Baur is strategically positioned to provide emergency support across the European Union within 24 hours, covering an operational radius of approximately 1,000 kilometres.

Supporting this capability is a well-equipped service infrastructure comprising 12 Mercedes Sprinter service vans, a team of 24 skilled technicians, specialised bearing-change tools, a fully equipped hydraulic workshop, and a 1,000-square-metre facility with a five-ton crane track. Together, these resources position his team to manage the complete spectrum of Fornnax’s European service requirements efficiently and reliably.

Partnership Driven by Industry Insight

Having spent years servicing Eldan, Lindner, and Vecoplan shredders across the European recycling industry, Mr. Baur’s decision to collaborate with Fornnax is rooted in his understanding of market needs and customer expectations. His experience has provided valuable insight into what recycling plant operators require—not only from their machinery but also from the service teams supporting them.

According to Mr. Baur, Fornnax’s reputation for robust machine construction, superior wear protection, and maintenance-friendly design made the partnership a natural fit.

The collaboration comes at a time when Europe’s tyre recycling industry is facing mounting challenges, including rising cost pressures, shrinking margins, delayed investments, and a shortage of skilled labour. Mr. Baur believes these conditions reinforce the need for technically strong service partners capable of delivering rapid, dependable support.

Commenting on the partnership, he said, “Fornnax, with its exceptional price-performance ratio and superior quality, has the potential to become a market leader in Europe. We would like to be their service partner in this journey.”

Comprehensive Support Across the Equipment Lifecycle

As Fornnax’s authorised service partner, Mr. Baur will oversee the complete lifecycle support of the company’s equipment throughout the European Union. His responsibilities will include installation, commissioning, preventive maintenance, emergency repairs, and spare parts support across mechanical, hydraulic, and electrical systems.

Looking ahead, he also plans to develop a centralised spare parts distribution hub for European customers, particularly if Fornnax establishes a warehouse facility in Worbis to facilitate faster deliveries. To further strengthen service coverage, Mr. Baur intends to expand operations by adding two to three additional service teams and vehicles each year, progressively increasing capacity across the continent.

A Shared Commitment to Customer Excellence

Highlighting the strategic importance of the partnership, Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO of Fornnax, said:

“We strongly believe that by continuously improving our service quality and customer satisfaction index, we can build long-term relationships with our customers. Higher customer satisfaction leads to greater trust, which significantly increases repeat orders and ultimately drives sustained growth in our sales revenue.”

This customer-first philosophy underpins Fornnax’s strategy of building a dedicated European service partner network instead of relying solely on remote support. With Mr. Baur joining this network, customers across the European Union will benefit from faster response times, expert technical assistance, and dedicated on-ground support from a partner with extensive experience in high-throughput shredding operations.

Mr. Baur’s appointment also reflects Fornnax’s broader ambition to establish itself as the preferred shredding solutions provider for the European recycling industry, marking another important milestone in the company’s international growth strategy.

Veerendra Jamdade discusses why traditional ERP systems are failing to meet the demands of modern cement manufacturing and how intelligent, cloud-based, and industry-specific ERP solutions can drive operational efficiency, supply chain visibility and data-driven decision-making.

The slow-paced manufacturing realm has ceased to be a part of India’s cement sector. Due to new, large-scale infrastructure developments currently being realised, massive urban growth, increasing housing demand and increasingly strict delivery timeframes; India’s cement industry is now undergoing rapid change and has developed into a very dynamic ecosystem characterised by a need for speed, coordination and operational visibility. Widening chasm between current operational requirements and outdated enterprise resource planning (ERP) craftsmanship is rapidly becoming evident across the entire industry. In today’s cement industry, where organisations operate complex networks of plants, depots, logistics partners, distributors and field teams, it is also observed that traditional legacy-based enterprise systems are increasingly struggling to support the size, agility and timeliness of decision-making necessary to manage these operations efficiently. Given that even a small bottleneck in process can have numerous implications on profit margins for a variety of companies in the cement industry.

Lack of real-time visibility across plants and depots
To maintain a successful cement business, it is necessary to coordinate the efforts of all the different parties involved in the business. Coordination is essential for production units, grinding units (or plants), warehouses, depots, dealers and transport teams; they all must work together effectively to keep operations flowing smoothly. A major issue facing the cement sector is that, because traditional ERP systems were not designed to provide real-time visibility through the supply chain (a very large network), they cannot adequately meet this need.
Most legacy ERP systems still operate on delayed reporting cycles, where operational data is updated several hours after they occur, instead of being reported in real-time, making it impossible for decision-makers to receive the live information they need to manage inventory levels; dispatching, scheduling, and fluctuations in the areas they service. With transportation making up a significant portion of the cost of doing business in cement, delayed visibility directly affects profitability. Therefore, a modern cement company needs immediate access to the operational data they require to support their business, rather than reports that provide that information after having made the necessary decision.

Poor integration with supply chain and logistics
Logistics play a crucial role in the success of many organisations; the cement industry is one of those industries that relies much on logistics. From the movement of raw materials to the delivery of finished products, the efficiency with which transportation is utilised is critical to the company’s profitability. Unfortunately, most traditional enterprise resource planning systems are still designed and used as stand-alone systems and don’t connect properly with the logistics networks and processes of a company. This means companies rely on phone calls, spreadsheets, and manual coordination to manage deliveries and vehicles during their transit.
As a result of this condition, tracking delays is much more difficult, route optimisation is less effective and vehicle turnaround time increases. In short, the modern cement supply chain needs seamless digital connections between manufacturing, warehousing, transportation, and dealer networks in order to be efficient, transparent, and respond faster to customer demands than those companies that do not have an integrated supply chain.
Continued dependency on manual processes
One of the most significant ironies within numerous cement companies is that, although the companies have invested in ERP systems, they still require several manual operations to support their daily operations. Workers still rely on spreadsheets, hard copy documents, emails, and non-electronic approvals, all of which are time-consuming and increase the likelihood of errors. Failure to properly enter dispatch records may result in incorrect inventory information, which may lead to billing errors that create operational confusion at the company’s scale of operations.
Manual processes also reduce productivity because employees must spend an inordinate amount of time keeping the various systems updated and very little time involved in analysing the data or improving the execution of their work. A further complication related to using technology is the diminishing ease of use. Technology was designed to improve the efficiency of operations and have a net result of reducing complexity. If workers require multiple manual operations to perform basic operational activities, the ERP system has not met its intended objective.
Weak analytics and forecasting capabilities
The cement industry has a market that is constantly in flux, due to factors such as infrastructure investment, seasonality of demand, fuel costs, building activity by region and general economic cycles; therefore, having accurate forecasts is very important in this type of market. Traditional ERP systems are primarily data repositories with limited analytic functionality; thus, they capture transactional and operational information but generally lack advanced analytical capabilities for converting captured data into actionable information. This affects everything from demand forecasting and inventory planning through procurement and production scheduling.
Companies frequently struggle to predict when regional demand will surge, identify slow-moving inventory items, or optimise their production capacity in a manner that is effective. Without the benefit of predictive intelligence, companies find themselves having to react to issues rather than preparing to address them. With today’s increased competition in the marketplace, relying on reactive decision-making is no longer a viable option.

The future of ERP in the cement industry
In the world of enterprise resource planning (ERP), intelligence, automation, and predictive decision-making are the future. The use of artificial intelligence and machine learning in today’s ERP systems allows them to provide far more than simply documenting operational data. These intelligent systems can model demand patterns, predicting maintenance needs, managing purchasing and inventory levels, assisting with dispatching and scheduling, and identifying inefficiencies prior to becoming a significant issue.
Cement manufacturers will see reductions in downtime, improved cost control, increased inventory productivity, and quicker decision-making through all areas of their operation due to the use of an intelligent ERP system. An intelligent ERP system enables you to turn data into a source of competitive advantage vs. simply providing you with a report.

Greater adoption of cloud-based ERP
Cloud ERP systems are increasingly becoming a necessity for businesses operating across multiple locations. Cloud ERP is far more flexible and scalable than the flagships on-premise systems. For cement companies operating under remotely distributed conditions, cloud technology allows the teams to access real-time information from anywhere. Management teams can monitor plant performance via remote access, while field teams and depot managers can coordinate more effectively. Additionally, cloud-based systems facilitate upgrades, lessening the reliance on IT organisations, while allowing for operational scaling with no major infrastructure investment. In a fast-moving industry, agility matters and cloud ERP delivers just that.

Industry-specific ERP solutions
Generic enterprise solutions form the basis for many traditional ERP platforms. However, numerous sectors today require detailed and very specialised operating requirements. For example, in the cement sector, there are areas of importance such as freight optimisation, clinker tracking and bulk dispatch management, along with dealer incentive structures, and multi-location production planning that can require sector-specific workflows and functionality.
Consequently, sector-specific ERP models are rapidly gaining favour. Because quasi-customised approaches can be costly, difficult to maintain, and may not provide a suitable product for the user’s needs, more companies are choosing an ERP that comprises industry-specific functionality and is designed specifically for their operation; reducing the need for tremendous amounts of customisation while providing an enhanced level of usability and a better fit to what the way their business operates versus a generic enterprise process. When users find an ERP model that provides them with functionality that can be built into their workflow, they are much more likely to accept the use of the system than if the ERP model were generic in nature.

Integrated logistics and supply chain ecosystems
For the ERP systems of the future to be truly effective as a fully integrated operational ecosystem, there must be a common digital backbone connecting all participants in the supply chain manufacturers, distribution centres, carriers, retailers, purchasing departments and consumers. In doing so, businesses will achieve much greater operational performance by implementing elements like real-time truck tracking, automated route planning, digital proof-of-delivery and integrated communication with their suppliers. A complete supplier chain will lead to reduced
supply chain delays, as well as lower transportation costs and greater customer satisfaction through increased visibility of delivery status and quicker response times.

E-mobile and user-friendly systems
Today, employees want their technology to be efficient, easy to use, and portable, but many of the older-style enterprise resource planning systems don’t provide employees with anything but a dated interface and therefore make it hard for them to adopt them. Today’s ERP systems need to give importance to usability and accessibility. Mobile-first systems will allow the employee to approve shipments, view the inventory, track the progress of deliveries, and get production data all on their smartphone or tablet. This enables much quicker responses to employees’ needs, aiding in user adoption of the application, and allowing for faster data entry from the field. The more user-friendly an ERP application is, the greater the operational value it brings to the company.
As a result, the legacy systems used to provide basic operational support are now out-dated and can no longer handle the main challenges of operating a modern cement company. The future of the industry will require sophisticated ERP systems that are developed via cloud technologies that provide functionality like real time visibility into your business; integrated logistics solutions supplier, customer, and internal logistics, predictive data analytics; and user-friendly interfaces. For cement manufacturers, upgrading ERP Systems is not just a technology decision but rather it is a Business Imperative. The cement companies that implement better digital systems will be positioned to improve operational efficiencies, lower costs, create stronger supply chains and compete more effectively in the future.

About the author
Veerendra Jamdade, CEO and Founder, Vritti Solutions, is an award-winning technology leader with over 33 years of experience driving digital transformation across manufacturing and enterprise ecosystems through ERP, CRM and WMS solutions.