New Delhi, Aug. 8 -- The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced that the government is preparing a new bill to strengthen the domestic construction equipment (CE) industry.

The legislation, expected to be tabled in the upcoming parliamentary session, aims to reduce dependence on imports-especially from China-and improve the sector's competitiveness through a supportive regulatory framework.

The announcement was made during the annual meeting of the Indian Construction Equipment Manufacturers' Association (ICEMA), which represents over 150 stakeholders, including 95% of the country's OEMs and component makers.

India's CE industry is currently valued at around $9 billion, but imports from China have ...