Sourcing, speed and sustainability

The country's most ambitious construction boom currently hinges on solving a unique equation: delivering rapid, integrated infrastructure while adhering to unwavering ESG objectives. Digital procurement, renewable materials, and cutting-edge building techniques are transforming this challenge into a competitive advantage.

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India is working on a historic construction project as the third decade of the new millennium continues.

The nation's infrastructure drive, a colossal effort that promises to transform its economic landscape, is no longer merely measured in kilometres of road paved or tonnes of steel consumed. It is characterised by the convergence of two national imperatives: the vigorous push towards a Net-Zero future and the acceleration of integrated development.

For project managers and procurement veterans, this dynamic has created an unprecedented and essential problem. The mandate is to rapidly create complex, multimodal corridors in line with the ambitious PM Gati Shakti goal while simultaneously sourcing green materials and significantly reducing carbon emissions across the entire supply chain. There is pressure to strike a balance between strict Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) compliance and expedited implementation. To navigate this complicated landscape is to determine the plan for the nation's next century.

From silos to synergy

A shade of retrospection is necessary to understand the magnitude of the present transformation. For many years, India's infrastructure development was frequently a tale of disjointed planning, siloed departments, and persistent delays and overspending. A road would be laid, only to be dug up weeks later for a communication line, or a pipeline project would be hindered by a lack of rail access to carry material. Logistics costs typically absorb a disproportionate share of GDP, impeding competitiveness.