The road transport and highways sector has seen a substantial budget increase, rising from Rs 31,130 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3,00,019 crore in 2024-25.
India’s infrastructure landscape is undergoing a dramatic transformation, with a surge in expressway projects that is set to redefine the nation’s connectivity and drive economic growth.
These ambitious projects are not just about building roads; they represent a strategic push to modernise transportation, reduce travel times, and stimulate regional development.
The total length of the national highway network has expanded significantly in the country, rising 60 per cent in a decade, from 91,287 km in March 2014 to 1,46,204 km at present, Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply to an unstarred question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.This expansion includes developments in Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and the Northeastern states.The road transport and highways sector has seen a substantial budget increase, rising from Rs 31,130 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3,00,019 crore in 2024-25, informed the minister.
Capital expenditure on national highways has also seen a massive jump from about Rs 51,000 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 3.01 lakh crore in 2023-24.
With increased budgetary allocation, the length of four-lane and wider highways has increased 2.5 times, growing from about 18,371 km in 2014 to about 48,430 km now. Simultaneously, the proportion of highways with less than two lanes has decreased from 30 per cent of the total network in 2014 to only 9 per cent at present.
According to the statement, about 2,474 km of National High-Speed Corridors (HSCs) and expressways are now operational. These infrastructure advancements have broadened connectivity and accessibility to National Highways throughout India, contributing to greater logistics efficiency.
Increased budgetary allocation
The expansion focuses on enhancing road quality and expanding multi-lane highways, contributing to overall economic development.
Schemes initiated
Recognising the strategic importance of the sector, the government, over the years, has introduced several schemes to expand and modernise the country’s road infrastructure. This includes the Bharatmala Pariyojana, which aims to develop about 65,000 km of national highways, including economic corridors, inter-corridor and feeder routes, border and international connectivity roads, and coastal and port connectivity highways. For enhancing rural connectivity, Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana aims to provide all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations, particularly those with significant populations. Under this scheme, 8,10,250 km of road length was sanctioned, out of which 7,65,601 km (94 per cent) has been constructed, as of July 2024.