Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari today said that the government’s foremost priority is to provide high-quality infrastructure while maintaining cost-effectiveness. He emphasized that there can be no compromise on the quality of infrastructure development.

Addressing the fourth edition of the Tunnels and Bridges Conference 2026 in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari stressed the need for detailed and robust Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) to ensure better infrastructure and meet international standards.

He said, poor-quality DPRs and inadequate geological data often lead to cost overruns, delays and safety concerns. Outlining the challenges of construction in Himalayan terrains, including landslides, extreme weather, natural hazards and logistical difficulties, the Minister said that constructing tunnels and bridges in the Himalayas is more challenging than in black rock regions. Mr Gadkari highlighted the importance of precast methodology, advanced Tunnel Boring Machines, better survey and monitoring, and early-warning systems to prevent failures.