India set new benchmarks in highway construction as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), in collaboration with M/s Rajpath Infracon Private Limited, achieved four Guinness World Records while building the Bengaluru–Kadapa–Vijayawada Economic Corridor (NH-544G) in Andhra Pradesh.
The achievement unfolded in two phases. On 6 January 2026, near Puttaparthi, teams set two global records in a single day: the longest continuous laying of Bituminous Concrete at 28.89 lane km in 24 hours, and the highest quantity laid continuously at 10,655 metric tonnes. Both records were achieved on a six-lane highway project, a first globally.
On 11 January 2026, two more records were set across Packages 2 and 3 of the corridor: 57,500 metric tonnes of Bituminous Concrete were laid without interruption, covering 156 lane km—equivalent to a three-lane-wide stretch of 52 km—shattering the previous world record of 84.4 lane km.
Officials credited the success to detailed planning, advanced machinery, and disciplined execution. The operation involved 70 tippers, five hot mix plants, a paver, and 17 rollers working in coordination. Quality control was ensured with support from IIT Bombay and equipment manufacturers to meet strict safety and durability standards.
On 12 January, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu praised NHAI and the concessionaire for the achievement. Gadkari highlighted that the records reflected India’s emphasis on innovation, sustainable construction, skill development, and eco-friendly technologies such as rice-straw-based bitumen.
The 343 km six-lane economic corridor is designed for high-speed, safe travel. It includes 17 interchanges, 10 wayside amenities, a 5.3 km tunnel, and a 21 km forest stretch. Once operational, it is expected to cut travel distance by roughly 100 km and reduce journey time by about four hours, improving connectivity between Bengaluru, Rayalaseema, and coastal Andhra Pradesh.
