Infrastructure Conference and Achiever’s Awards 2026

ASSOCHAM Infrastructure Conference and Achiever’s Awards 2026, Engineering Resilience – Building Intelligence into Infrastructure Construction, is scheduled on April 28, 2026 at New Delhi.

Hon’ble Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, will Chair the Plenary Session of the Conference. The event is expected to witness participation from senior Ministry Officials including Secretary (Roads);  Director General (Road), Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Rail Vikas Nigam Limited, RITES Limited, Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation Limited (MSRDC), CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) along with other eminent dignitaries and Industry leaders.  On this prestigious occasion, ASSOCHAM will felicitate Outstanding Achiever Awards 2026 upon distinguished industry leaders and organizations in recognition of their exemplary contributions, innovation, and leadership in strengthening India’s infrastructure ecosystem and driving economic growth. The objective of the Achiever’s Awards is to recognise extraordinary and remarkable infrastructure Projects developed across the Nation, which provide not just the connectivity, but also provide strategic advantage to the Nation.  The Conference will bring together policymakers, industry leaders, infrastructure developers, and technology providers to deliberate issues that impact Highways and Tunnel Construction, measures to enhance safety and sustainability of national assets, integrating advanced technologies to accelerate the delivery of world-class infrastructure across the country. 

1. Highways :  The Government’s approach has evolved from focusing purely on asset creation to building future-ready, technology-enabled, safe, and sustainable infrastructure. With rising mobility demands, increasing freight movement, and the need for seamless connectivity across diverse terrains, the emphasis today is on speed, scale, sustainability, multimodal integration, lower logistics costs and improve connectivity to ports, industrial corridors, and rural areas. Key developments include the construction of access-controlled expressways and economic corridors to reduce travel time, integration with railways and logistics parks, adoption of digital tolling and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS), improved road design and real-time monitoring, and enhanced road safety measures such as black spot correction. Looking ahead, priorities include developing green highways using recycled and sustainable materials, expanding EV charging infrastructure, and strengthening asset management systems for better maintenance and performance tracking.

1. Bridges:  The focus is on longevity, safety, and reduced lifecycle costs. Structural health monitoring systems are being increasingly deployed to ensure safety and optimize maintenance.  Focus is also on use of advanced materials (high-performance concrete, corrosion-resistant steel), Precast and modular construction techniques for faster execution and Climate-resilient design to withstand floods, seismic activity, and extreme weather. 

1. Tunneling plays a transformative role in providing all-weather connectivity in practically unreachable terrains and are critical to Decongest urban transport corridors and reduce in travel distance and fuel consumption.  Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) systems are essential to modern tunnels, covering lighting, power, fire safety, drainage, and emergency communication. Complementing this, Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)  systems enable real-time monitoring and centralized control of operations—managing ventilation-  critical life-safety system that maintains air quality and manages smoke during emergencies, using advanced longitudinal, transverse, or semi-transverse designs with jet fans and sensors to ensure safe and continuous operation under all conditions.

India as Nation is not just building infrastructure but is building confidence, connectivity, and a foundation for a $5 trillion economy.