IJM (India) Infrastructure Ltd, the Indian arm of IJM Corp Bhd, has set a new record by the laying of 25.54 lane-km road stretch in a short span of 17 hours and 45 minutes on its Solapur-Bijapur highway project in India.

IJM India was successful in constructing two lanes of 12.77 km each on one side of the four-lane highway stretch along the Solapur-Bijapur section of National Highway-13.

This is the first time in the history of the National Highway Authorities of India (NHAI) that such an undertaking has been attempted and achieved by any construction company in India’s infrastructure industry.

In recognition of this achievement, the IJM India team received the Chairman’s Commendation Trophy Award at the 12th Annual Vishwakarma Awards Ceremony organised by the Construction Industrial Development Council of India (CIDC) in New Delhi yesterday.

The record-setting feat is also being assessed for entry into the Limca Book of Records, India’s localised version of the Guinness Book of World Records.

“The meticulous task involved huge logistical and technical planning,” IJM Corp CEO and managing director Liew Hau Seng pointed out.

“IJM is once again put on the map, reaffirming our reputation and track record in India’s construction industry as a builder of choice and high-performance concessionaire beyond borders.”

While carrying out the works, the project team ensured that there was no disturbance to vehicles plying the road and all safety measures were ensured on the project highway.

These completed road stretches are ready to use by road users well in advance, resulting in reduced travel time and increased fuel savings and ride quality for the high-density commercial vehicle corridor between the major Indian cities of Bangalore (Karnataka State) and Gwalior (Madhya Pradesh State) via the Solapur-Bijapur stretch.

At present, 110km of Solapur-Bijapur highway is in progress and will be completed by October this year. In November 2017, IJM was awarded the contract to develop the Solapur-Bijapur section of the new National Highway 52 between the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka.

At RM1.5 bil, the four-lane, 110 km tollway is the largest Indian project undertaken by IJM in value and one of the largest contracts awarded by NHAI on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer basis.

“We are confident that our team in India will continue to excel in our ongoing projects and stay on course in executing the IJM’s India strategy – which is to strengthen our footprint in India,” enthused Liew.

“As one of the largest Malaysian construction companies in India, we aim to do this by actively pursuing construction, property and infrastructure opportunities in the public and private sectors as well as through strategic joint ventures.”

IJM’s Infrastructure Division currently operates two tolled highways in India – the 68km Chilkaluripet-Vijayawada Tollway and the 19.8km Dewas Bypass Tollway.