Anurag Jain, the secretary of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), expressed confidence in achieving the highways construction target of 13,814 kilometers for the current fiscal year. Let’s explore the updates and projections regarding India’s highway infrastructure development.
Progress Update
As of December 2023, the total length of national highways in India has witnessed a significant increase, reaching 1,46,145 kilometers compared to 91,287 kilometers in 2014, marking a 60 percent surge since the inception of the Narendra Modi government.
Optimistic Outlook
Jain highlighted the positive momentum in highway construction, with 6,217 kilometers of national highways built by December 31, 2023, surpassing the previous year’s figure of 5,774 kilometers for the same period. The ministry aims to maintain this pace to meet the annual target.
Project Awards and DPR Preparation
To expedite the process, the government plans to award 10,000 kilometers of national highway projects in the fiscal year 2023-24. Additionally, companies have been tasked with preparing detailed project reports (DPR) for identified projects yet to be awarded, facilitating smoother project execution.
Infrastructure Expansion
The length of four-lane and above national highways has surged to 46,179 kilometers in December 2023 from 18,387 kilometers in 2014, signifying a substantial expansion. Moreover, the development of high-speed corridors has seen remarkable growth, reaching 3,913 kilometers compared to 353 kilometers in 2014.
Fiscal Expenditure and Scrapping Policy
The ministry anticipates a significant increase in highways construction expenditure, expecting it to rise by 9.4 times to Rs 3.17 lakh crore in 2023 from the levels recorded in 2014. Furthermore, progress has been made under the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, with 44 registered vehicle scrapping facilities operational and a significant number of vehicles scrapped.
Toll Collection
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has reported toll collections amounting to Rs 18,450 crore until December in the current financial year, reflecting the sustained revenue generation from toll operations.
As India continues to prioritize infrastructure development, the strides made in highway construction underscore the government’s commitment to fostering robust transportation networks and driving economic growth.
