“With NIP in place, we expect speedy project awarding”

In an interview, Satish Parakh, Managing Director, Ashoka Buildcon speaks about government’s recent thrust on speeding infrastructure projects, company’s approach on road safety and smart highways vertical

What are the opportunities ABL is eyeing being a Master System Integrator?

ABL started thinking of Smart Highways vertical three years back with a vision of overall social development by leveraging the power of technology to solve modern-day problems. Smart Highway vertical of Ashoka Buildcon, a wing specially dedicated to smart city projects is also making its presence in Integrated Traffic Management System, command control, e-governance, safe city, data centre and disaster recovery, early warning dissemination Systems, homeland security, border management security, smart light, e-Education, BRTS, smart parking, e-Health, mobile video surveillance and other verticals. Currently, we are in the process of capacity building with a specific focus on AI and IoT.

Recently, the finance minister announced Rs 102 lakh crore national infrastructure plan of which major share has been given to the transport sector. How are you planning to leverage it?

Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has come up with phase-I of ambitious Bharatmala programme, wherein around 24,800km of highways are being considered for development. Besides, it also includes 10,000km of balance road works under NHDP, taking the total to 34,800km at an estimated cost of Rs 5.35 lakh crore. We believe that this announcement by Finance Minister for the national infrastructure plan (NIP), wherein major share of capital expenditure has been allocated to transport sector will contribute to the successful implementation of prestigious Bharatmala programme. Looking at the above agenda of the government, it is likely that the pace for awarding new projects will be high. We feel, we have a huge opportunity going ahead. However, ABL will be selective in bidding as we did in past and will focus on the viable projects without compromising on the bottom line.

What milestones has ABL achieved to make it one of the largest infrastructure developers in India?

Ashoka Buildcon has been the forefront contributor for the nation-building program having an experience of building more than 10,000+ lane km of highways.

Our integrated business model has been instrumental in establishing control across the value chain. We have our in-house expertise for all the roads/highways projects for the entire life cycle of the projects involving activities start from inception stage survey, engineering, finance, project planning, construction, monitoring, operation and maintenance. Our portfolio comprises of several prestigious projects that have changed the socioeconomic landscape of the region.