PATNA, May 13 -- Engineers of the road construction department (RCD) will soon undertake trips to Maharashtra and Gujarat to familiarise with the latest technologies used in development of the communication network. Talking to the HT after taking over as the new minister of the RCD, Kumar Shailendra, who himself is an engineer by profession, on Tuesday said that senior officials and engineers from the state will be deputed to these two leading states to study cutting-edge project execution, advanced construction techniques and quality control mechanisms that have transformed highway development elsewhere in India. "Engineers of the department must learn the nuances of modern techniques and see how technology-driven development is executed on the ground," said the minister, while emphasising that Bihar lagged far behind in the adoption of modern road-building technologies. "Engineers must also learn to bridge the gap," he said, adding that upon their return, these learnings would be applied to Bihar's ambitious road network expansion. The minister made it clear that petty contracts would no longer be dealt with casually. "Only qualified vendors, who have obtained official recognition and have proven technical competence will be offered major projects. This move is designed to ensure timely completion, superior workmanship and greater accountability to address long-standing issues of delays, substandard work and contractor defaults that plagued several projects in the state," added the minister. Underscoring his professional credentials, Shailendra said, "I am myself a civil engineer and hence understand the importance of quality in road construction."...