Latest construction technologies need of the hour: Parrikar

Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Friday stressed on the need to incorporate latest technologies to solve challenges and enhancing the pace of constructing roads, bridges and tunnels in inaccessible and far-flung border areas.

Addressing a gathering at an international seminar on 'New Construction Materials Techniques and Design in Bridge, Tunnel and Road Construction Suitable for Infrastructure Development in Inaccessible Border Area' here, Parrikar said construction materials which behave normal in plain areas may not be conducive in the extreme cold climate of high altitude areas.

He stressed on the need for the application of nanotechnology which could be of great use in soil stabilisation, being a pre-requisite for construction of roads and tunnels in such areas, an official statement said.

Parrikar appreciated the efforts of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for introducing latest technologies to improve efficacy and pace of construction of various projects undertaken by it.

The two-day seminar, aimed to evaluate and identify latest techniques and construction materials for building roads, bridges and tunnels, has been organised by the BRO in partnership with Indian Institution of Bridge Engineers, Delhi State Centre (IIBE, DSC) and in collaboration with Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, National Highways Authority of India, Central Public Works Department and Ministry of Railways, it added.