Date:13/02/2004 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2004/02/13/stories/2004021301210400.htm

Back And now `grey' revolution, says Jaitley

Our Bureau

New Delhi , Feb. 12

THE country is poised for a grey revolution with the construction sector entering a boom phase to meet the demand for new highways, ports and real estate, according to the Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Mr Arun Jaitley.

"This grey revolution has been fuelled by the largest highways construction programme in the world providing vast scope for the industry. The Golden Quadrilateral project and Sagarmala (integrated ports and shipping development scheme), along with infrastructure requirements of cities and small towns, will throw up tremendous opportunities," Mr Jaitley said while inaugurating the first international exhibition and conference on building materials and construction technologies.

The Minister also said that it was now up to the construction sector to acquire new skills and prepare itself to make the scenario of a construction boom to become a reality.

Stressing the need for fast development of urban infrastructure, he said in order to become a developed nation by 2020, villages would require huge urban infrastructure and cities would need a facelift in terms of metro systems, convention centres and underground parking facilities on a priority basis.

The Minister, however, said, "we have a long way to go in this field" as is evident from the fact that the global average for per capita consumption of steel is 150 kg per annum as against the Indian average of just 27 kg.

The four-day event is being jointly organised by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) and Builders Association of India (BAI).