National Highways Excellence Awards (NHEA) 2023

To foster innovation, recognize excellence, and promote quality in the development of National Highways in India, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) organized the 6th edition of the National Highways Excellence Awards 2023 (NHEA 2023) on April 15, 2025, at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The event aims to encourage competition, reward outstanding work, and set benchmarks in road construction and highway maintenance across the country.

Key Highlights

Event Details

• Occasion: 6th National Highways Excellence Awards (NHEA) 2023
• Venue: Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi
• Date: April 15, 2025
• Organized by: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)

Main Dignitaries Present

• Shri Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister, MoRTH)
• Shri Harsh Malhotra (MoS, MoRTH & Corporate Affairs)
• Dr. V.K. Saraswat (Member, NITI Aayog)
• Shri V. Umashankar (Secretary, MoRTH)
• Shri Santosh Kumar Yadav (Chairman, NHAI)

Major Award Categories and Winners

1. Excellence in Project Management (PPP)

• Award: Silver Award
• Winner: H.G. Infra Engineering Ltd.
• Project: Ateli Mandi to Narnaul section of NH-11 & Narnaul Bypass (Haryana)

2. Excellence in Project Management (EPC)

• Award: Silver Award
• Winner: Bhartia Infra Projects
• Project: Hakanjuri to Khonsa section of NH-315A (Arunachal Pradesh)

3. Excellence in Operation & Maintenance (Flexible Pavement)

• Award: Gold Award
• Winner: Nanguneri Kanyakumari Tollway Pvt. Ltd.
• Project: Madurai to Kanyakumari, NH-7 Package 4 (Tamil Nadu)

4. Green Highways Category

• Gold Award: Ashoka Buildcon Ltd. (Kandi to Ramsanpalle, NH-161, Telangana)
• Silver Award: Deccan Tollways Ltd. (Maharashtra-Karnataka border to Sangareddy, NH-65)

5. Best Engineer Award

Awardees

• Shri Navratan (DGM & PD, NHAI)
• Shri Devender Kumar (GM, NHIDCL)
• Shri Subhash Chandra (RO Itanagar, MoRTH)

6. Special Recognition

• Awarded to: Uralungal Labour Contract Co-operative Society (ULCCS)
• Reason: Commitment to quality, transparency, and social responsibility

Innovation & Hackathon

• Winners of “पथ चिंतन Hackathon” were felicitated for their innovative, tech-driven ideas to improve highway infrastructure.

Key Speeches & Insights

Nitin Gadkari (Union Minister, MoRTH)

• Emphasized collective responsibility in achieving global benchmarks.
• Highlighted the goal of improving quality, ownership, and decision-making in highway projects.

Harsh Malhotra (MoS, MoRTH)

• Called highways the “roads of progress.”
• Linked infrastructure development with the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision.

Background on NHEA

• Started in: 2018

Purpose

• Promote healthy competition
• Recognize excellence in the highway sector
• Drive continuous improvement across highway development, maintenance, and innovation