In a move that promises to simplify some of India’s most difficult construction projects, the NHAI and Konkan Railway have signed a five-year pact to stop working in silos. The goal is simple but ambitious: to plan and build “integrated” infrastructure like rail-cum-road bridges and tunnels as a single, unified team rather than two separate agencies.
This partnership is particularly vital for India’s geographically challenging regions, where space is tight, and the engineering is high-stakes. By sharing technical secrets, safety audits, and advanced monitoring tech, both agencies can avoid the “clash of standards” that often delays multi-modal projects.
Instead of road and rail fighting for the same narrow mountain pass or forest corridor, they will now co-design transport hubs and logistics parks from day one. It’s a pragmatic shift that treats infrastructure not just as a set of tracks or lanes, but as a single, efficient engine for India’s economic growth.
