India and Japan Hold 12th Roads Working Group Session

The 12th session of the India-Japan Joint Working Group (JWG) on the Roads and Road Transportation Sector was held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi on 15 October 2026. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways organised the meeting, which brought together representatives of the Government of India and the Government of Japan along with technical institutions and industry stakeholders from both countries.

What the session is for

The Joint Working Group is the standing platform through which the two governments take bilateral cooperation in road transport forward. This session put its weight on four things: advanced construction technologies, tunnel and bridge engineering, sustainable infrastructure development, and the use of new and digital technologies in managing roads once they are built.

How the talks were carried out

Technical knowledge, working experience and best practices were exchanged between the two sides, and the discussion went on to look for openings for closer collaboration in the planning, construction, operation and maintenance of road infrastructure. Experts and representatives from Indian and Japanese technical institutions and from industry made technical presentations, and these were followed by interactive question and answer sessions on innovative technologies and sustainable practices.

A whole of government approach

The meeting was not confined to one ministry. Under a whole of government approach, the Ministry of Railways and the Ministry of Power also took active part, which matters because a highway alignment, a rail corridor and a transmission line frequently share the same ground and the same clearances.

The policy frame

The session was placed within the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which looks to India becoming a developed nation by the centenary of its Independence, supporting economic growth, improving connectivity, strengthening logistics efficiency and widening access to opportunity across regions. The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has pressed for road infrastructure that is world class, safe, efficient, sustainable and technology driven, bridges and tunnels included, so that it serves growth while improving the convenience and quality of life of citizens.

Why it matters

The session closed by reaffirming the value of India-Japan cooperation in road and transport infrastructure through technological innovation, sustainable construction practices and the exchange of technical expertise.