India's National Highways Experience 60% Growth Over the Past Decade, Ranking as 2nd Largest Network Globally
Click to start listening
New Delhi, Jan 9 (NationPress) The extent of India’s National Highway network has seen a remarkable 60% increase in the last decade, rising from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,195 km in 2024, which positions it as the second largest road network globally, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways year-end review published on Thursday.
In a significant milestone, the length of National High-Speed Corridors has expanded from a mere 93 km in 2014 to 2,474 km by 2024, indicating substantial advancements in the country’s infrastructure.
The swift expansion of the highway system is attributed to the Centre's initiatives, particularly flagship programs like Bharatmala Pariyojana, as noted in the official statement.
An additional 2,540 km of highways have been integrated through Externally Aided Projects (EAP), facilitated by loans from institutions such as the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) as of November 30, 2024, according to the statement.
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has also greenlit the development of 8 key National High-Speed Corridor projects, spanning 936 km at an estimated cost of Rs 50,655 crore nationwide. The implementation of these initiatives is projected to create around 4.42 crore man-days of direct and indirect job opportunities.
Through Asset Monetisation under the Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT) model, the NHAI has monetized four TOT bundles, yielding Rs 15,968 crore during FY 2023-24, accumulating a total of Rs 42,334 crore to date. For FY 2024-25, NHAI has awarded TOT Bundle 16 covering a 251 km stretch on the Hyderabad-Nagpur corridor of NH-44 in Telangana to M/s Highway Infrastructure Trust for Rs 6,661 crores for a period of 20 years.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is planning to establish a network of 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks as part of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, with an investment of approximately Rs 46,000 crore. Once operational, these parks will have the capacity to manage around 700 million metric tonnes of cargo. Among these, MMLPs at 15 prioritized locations will be developed with a total investment of about Rs. 22,000 crore.
These MMLPs will function as regional hubs for cargo aggregation and distribution for various industrial and agricultural sectors, consumer centers, and EXIM gateways like seaports, offering multi-modal connectivity. In specific instances, the MMLPs are being developed in conjunction with Inland Waterway Terminals under the Sagarmala Pariyojana to significantly lower inland cargo transport costs compared to traditional road-based methods, as further elaborated in the statement.
To guarantee adequate last-mile connectivity to all operational ports in the country, MoRTH has created a comprehensive Port Connectivity Masterplan for the Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, identifying connectivity needs, which have led to the selection of 59 critical infrastructure projects with a total length of about 1,300 km for implementation, the statement explained.
The Prime Minister has inaugurated numerous road development projects, enhancing connectivity and fostering economic growth in associated regions. A notable project launched this year was the 2,320-metre-long cable-stayed Sudarshan Setu Bridge (Okha-Beyt Dwarka Signature bridge), constructed at an expense of around Rs 980 crore, linking the Okha mainland with Beyt Dwarka island. This iconic bridge is also set to become a significant tourist attraction in Devbhumi Dwarka.
Additional initiatives include the All India Tourist Permit Module developed by NIC, allowing tourist vehicle operators to transport tourists and their luggage across India, streamlining interstate travel, improving mobility, and aiding the tourism sector by eliminating the necessity for multiple permits.
The government is also crafting a scheme to deliver cashless treatment to victims of road accidents involving motor vehicles.
Moreover, the government has established the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities, which are currently operational in 19 states and Union Territories, with 66 additional centers under construction.
High priority has also been assigned to identifying and rectifying blackspots (accident-prone areas) on National Highways, making sustained efforts towards enhancing road safety through engineering measures, the review added.
