The Hindu Business Line : Fifth edition of EXCON opens today

Bangalore, Nov. 24 The fifth edition of Excon 2009, the largest construction equipment exhibition in South Asia is expected to have over 30,000 visitors. The exhibition to be held between November 25 and 29, 2009 at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru will be inaugurated by Mr Kamal Nath, Minister for Road, Transport and Highways, Government of India.

The importance of the exhibition is enhanced by the Government’s huge growth plans in the sector for the next five years. For instance, the Planning Commission, has planned an investment of Rs 14.5 lakh crore in infrastructure during the 11th five year plan. The Indian road network with 3.3m km is the second largest in the world, and the Government plans to invest Rs 45,000 crore per anum in new road development in the next five years. The Indian Railways is considering an investment of around Rs 279000 crore in the 11th Plan. The Jawaharlal Nehru Urban Renewal Mission envisages an investment of Rs 90000 crore in urban infrastructure by 2012. The Government has recently cleared Rs 100,000 crore investment in SEZs. Challenges and opportunities abound in the industry: the challenges in these new projects would be the massive scale and the number of projects that are being taken up, the stringent time stipulations and also quality and safety insistence from all promoters. Then there is the challenge of building the country’s infrastructure in an ecologically sustainable manner. The conference would address all these issues plus other topics such as rural connectivity and development for inclusive growth, urban renewal – how to help improve the quality of life in fast growing cities, the challenges to build 20 km of road everyday. Interestingly, there are companies that are looking at out-of- box and alternate methods in construction, mechanisation at sites, choosing alternate methods to reduce costs.

The exhibition will have over 400 exhibitors from concrete equipment, material handling equipment, earth moving equipment and construction vehicles, road construction vehicles, tunnelling and drilling equipment will be a platform to show case the entire range of these products, the technology and on ground equipment experience. It also offers a business platform for companies to network. Visitors to the conference can register and also avail exhibitor appointments online.

There will be domestic bus shuttle service to and from the conference venue to the city. Services at the venue include business centre, internet kiosk with printers, ATM, courier desk and translation services. Helicopter services are being offered by Global Vectra Helicopter Ltd for airport transfers and for an aerial view of the exhibition.

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