Charting India's Growth Path: Construction Equipment Industry Gears Up for 2047

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari outlined the pivotal role of the construction equipment industry in India's growth, highlighting advancements in technology and sustainability. He stressed the importance of quality and innovation for global competitiveness, promising policy support. Industry leaders echoed the need for operator skilling and green practices to drive progress to 2047.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, emphasized the vital contribution of the construction equipment (CE) industry in achieving a developed India by 2047 at the ICEMA Annual Session 2025. He lauded the sector's resilient 3% growth in FY25, with equipment sales surpassing 1,40,000 units and a 10% rise in exports.

Gadkari highlighted the importance of embracing technological advancements and sustainable practices, advocating for green fuel, electric, and hydrogen-based vehicles as not only environmentally friendly but also economically advantageous. He assured stakeholders that adopting sustainability, quality, and innovation would significantly bolster global demand for Indian CE products.

The Minister underscored infrastructure as a key national growth engine, with a focus on roads, railways, and mining in the near future. He expressed the government's commitment to quality, warning of accountability for any lapses, and urged investment in high-capacity machinery. A new legislative bill aimed at addressing the industry's global competition challenges is slated for the next Parliament session.

V Vivekanand, ICEMA President and Caterpillar India's Managing Director, urged for making operator skilling mandatory, highlighting its importance for improving quality, minimizing risks, and boosting productivity. ICEMA's President-Designate Deepak Shetty stressed domestic manufacturing, digital transformation, and green practices as essential for growth and global competitiveness.

The ICEMA Annual Session 2025 marked a consensus among government and industry leaders on the construction equipment industry's pivotal role in India's infrastructure progress. The sector is set to pursue technological advancement, sustainability, and global competitiveness to realize the vision for Viksit Bharat 2047.

(With inputs from agencies.)