Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced that the central government will invest Rs 10 lakh crore in national highways over the next two years. The initiative aims to upgrade India’s road infrastructure to match global standards, with particular attention to improving connectivity in the Northeast and along border regions.
Northeast to Get US-Standard Roads
Gadkari emphasized that highways in the Northeast will be developed to be on par with those in the United States. Citing the region’s difficult terrain and strategic importance, he said the focus will be on improving infrastructure in areas where connectivity is most challenging.
Large-Scale Project Rollout Across States
Projects will be taken up in several states including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Delhi. In eastern India alone, 784 highway projects spanning 21,355 km are planned, with an investment of Rs 3.73 lakh crore.
Project Funding Across Eastern States
Gadkari shared a breakdown of current highway investments:
- Rs 57,696 crore in Assam
- Rs 90,000 crore in Bihar
- Over Rs 42,000 crore in West Bengal
- Rs 53,000 crore in Jharkhand
- Around Rs 58,000 crore in Odisha
Additionally, projects worth nearly Rs 1 lakh crore are underway in other northeastern states excluding Assam.
Pilot for Clean, Mass Rapid Transit in Nagpur
A pilot mass rapid transport project is being tested in Nagpur with a 135-seater bus powered by clean energy, at a cost of Rs 170 crore. If successful, this model will be replicated in high-traffic corridors such as the Delhi-Jaipur route, under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) framework.
National Highway Network Sees Major Expansion
India’s national highway network has expanded significantly from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1,46,204 km currently. The quality of roads has also improved, with two-lane highways now making up just 9% of the network, compared to 30% a decade ago.
