The 83rd annual session of the Indian Roads Congress is being held in Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, inaugurated the convention last evening. This four-day event will conclude on November 11.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari released three new guidelines and a manual on road construction and safety during the inauguration ceremony.

Several technical sessions are being held throughout this four-day convention. Over 2,000 experts, scientists, and engineers from various parts of the country are participating. Eighteen documents are being discussed in detail during the sessions.

The primary objective of the Indian Roads Congress is to formulate Indian Standards, Codes, Specifications, and Manuals related to roads, bridges, and road transport for adoption by central government road agencies to construct and maintain sustainable road infrastructure for the country’s overall development.

On the second day of the convention, a meeting of the Highway Research Board is being held to develop a roadmap for implementing laboratory research findings in road development, cutting-edge technology initiatives, and sustainable practices in the highway sector. Representatives from the central and state governments, research institutes, academic institutions, IITs, and the private sector are participating in these deliberations.