Festival Agenda

According to the targets set by NITI Aayog, the total network of highways — including single and intermediate lanes and 4&6 lanes — is set to double to 96,000 km in 2020 from 45,406 km at the end of the last financial year. The session will highlight this ambitious vision set by the government.

Focus of Discussion:

• An overview on the Road Development Plan - Bharatmala, Port connectivity, NE
• Dream of Smart Highways- Green, Pollution-free & Toll on the distance travelled
• 45 km/day: Where do we stand?
• As road infrastructure develops, how will future transport change ?
• Productivity through skill development

Moderator: Siva Subramanian, Director - Global Infrastructure Ratings, India Ratings & Research

Followed by Question & Answer

Session Topics:

• Risk Management Challenges in Projects – Processes, Practices, Review
• Building Teams, Leadership and Harnessing Innovation
• Management of Cost, Contracts and Stakeholder

Moderator : Dr. A Sivathanu Pillai, President, PMA India

Followed by Question & Answer

Innovation & Sustainability in the construction industry is both duty and opportunity, discovering ways to reduce construction phase emissions and embodied carbon from construction materials, and analysing how construction management firms, suppliers and contractors can work collaboratively in order to minimise the environmental impact of the construction process.

Focus of Discussion:

• Use of waste plastic materials for road construction
• Construction Going Green With Asphalt And Concrete
• Green Technology- Use of emulsion-based cold mix instead of hot bitumen mixes

In FY18, NHAI awarded 150 road projects of 7,397km, a record high. HAM projects formed the bulk of the total value of awards last year at 63 per cent, followed by pure EPC contracts at 35 per cent and BOT projects the remaining. This session will focus on how large contracting companies continue to bag big contracts, and how the change from BOT to HAM has helped medium-sized contractors and a new set of developers to come through.

Focus of Discussion:

• Chief bidding models and process
• Success of shifting from BOT to EPC and HAM
• Existing challenges in project execution, approvals and raising funds
• The need to focus on better risk allocation by creating a healthier mix of BOT, HAM and EPC projects

New technology is transforming the way buildings are designed, engineered, built, and managed. See how implementing advanced technology like 3D printing, Robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning etc can deliver business benefits whether you’re designing sustainable houses or reimagining the infrastructure of entire cities.

Focus of Discussion

• Targeting green technologies and materials for making net zero buildings
• How additive manufacturing, automation and robotics become essential tools to improve construction efficiency?
• How is drone technology and laser scanning changing the design and building process?
• Challenges + Best Practices of adopting faster and innovative construction techniques
• Latest Technology Innovations for Quality Assurance, Safety & Inspections

Finance Minister, leading investors and advisors from the private sector discuss the wave of new infrastructure projects being planned and the potential for funding in the current global economic and financial environment. This session will discuss the most effective channels for financing.

Focus of Discussion

• Investing wisely - global opportunities and new markets
• Role of private capital in developing next-gen infrastructure
• Alternative PPP Funding and Financing Options
• What tenors, pricing and structures can international and domestic banks offer?
• Will Smart Contract bring new boost in the construction industry?

India jumped up 30 notches into the top 100 rankings on the World Bank’s ‘ease of doing business’ index, thanks to major improvements in indicators such as resolving insolvency, paying taxes, protecting minority investors and getting credit. The significant jump is a result of the Indian government’s consistent efforts over the past few years and India’s endeavor to strengthen its position as a preferred place to do business.

Focus of Discussion

• Start a Business with ease – Construction Permits, Clearances and Industrial Land
• Enforcing Contracts: Understand National Judicial Data Grid
• Procedures to be followed while trading internationally
• Financial and Tax Literacy
• Role of technology

Followed by Question & Answer

Trends from the Top—Global Leaders Share Their World View and Explain Recent Strategic Moves
In this panel, senior leaders from global design firms and contractors will exchange views about the recent important strategic moves their companies have made and share ideas about the year ahead in global construction.

Moderator: Janice Tuchman, Editor-in-Chief, Engineering News-Record