Gadkari said that the proposed institute will have state-of-the-art laboratories, lecture hall and a library. He stressed the need for refresher courses and training for engineers involved in the construction industry. The proposed institute is expected to fill the gap to a great extent.

Gadkari called upon the construction industry to find out suitable technologies for the use of flyash discharged by the termal power stations in Vidarbha region. He told the gathering that about 2,000 low-cost houses have been constructed with bricks manufactured with the help of flyash in Vidarbharegion.

Gadkari said that the equation between the use of cement and durability has changed drastically in the present situation and added that considerable cement can be saved as per modern specifications and still achieve longer durability.

RN Raikar, principal coordinator of the Maharashtra India Chapter of ACI, said that several new options in cement were available. He said that the prevalent culture in civil engineering was to launch work activities without adequate preparation.

Raikar said that present day cement, its various types and chemistry, and several input parameters had undergone a sea-change almost to a point where Portland Cement was now obsolete. "Concepts of cement content and durability, in fact, are outdated by almost two decades," he added.

He said that the time was now ripe to evolve policy guidelines which would permit better concrete.

Meanwhile, a delegtation headed by Andhra Pradesh minister for road, bridges and ports, SV Subba Reddy, met Gadkari who apprised them aboutvarious policy initiatives and works undertaken by the state public works department and Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation on build- operate-and transfer basis. Subba Reddy was accompanied by special chief secretary V Anandam, V Murahari Reddy, engineer-in-chief and D Sree Rama Murthy, chief engineer (road and bridges), national highway.