Nitin Gadkari Reports 18,714 km of Highways Developed Under Bharatmala Pariyojana in Past 7 Years

New Delhi, Dec 18 (NationPress) A total of 26,425 km of highway projects have been awarded, and 18,714 km have been successfully constructed as of October 31, 2024, under the Bharatmala Pariyojana initiative, as shared in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Bharatmala Pariyojana was sanctioned by the Government of India in 2017, targeting a total length of 34,800 km to enhance connectivity and lower logistics costs throughout the nation.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has allocated Rs 4.72 lakh crore under the Bharatmala Pariyojana scheme up to October 30 this year, as stated by Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways, in a written response in the Rajya Sabha.

Additionally, 18 projects totaling 424 km have been awarded under the Port and Coastal Connectivity Roads Category, with 189 km already completed.

The various projects under the Bharatmala Scheme are enhancing connectivity to significant and minor ports across multiple coastal states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.

In response to another inquiry, Nitin Gadkari mentioned that 190 projects, covering 3,856 km and costing Rs 81,540 crore, are currently underway on National Highways (NHs) in the northeastern region.

All ongoing construction work is expected to be completed by September 2028. Financial allocations for NH projects are made both by state and by year.

A total budget of Rs 19,338 crore has been allocated for NH projects in the northeastern region for the financial year 2024-25, according to the Union Minister.

He emphasized that measures are being taken to expedite the completion of these projects.

These measures include streamlining land acquisition processes and enhancing the dispute resolution mechanisms.

Projects are awarded only after thorough preparation concerning land acquisition and requisite clearances to avoid delays.

Accurate utility estimates are obtained promptly following the finalization of alignments, and these are integral to project appraisals.

There is close collaboration with relevant ministries and state governments, with regular reviews conducted at various levels to accelerate progress. The approval process for changes in scope and time extensions is also being fast-tracked.

Moreover, the Network Planning Group is involved in project appraisals prior to sanctioning works to identify clearance issues in advance and formulate solutions proactively, stated Nitin Gadkari.