India has embarked on a massive infrastructure development drive to convert 25,000 kilometres of two-lane highways into four-lane highways, at an investment of about Rs 10 lakh crore (US$117 billion). Madam Speaker, this enormous drive, conceptualised by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari ji, will not only boost connectivity but also enhance the efficiency of logistics and transport across the country. The Hon’ble Minister has been a driving force for remarkable measures to not only reduce road construction-related emissions but also the high rate of road crashes in India. Thus, beyond Bhartan nirbhar, our Government is assuring Sabka Saath. Integrating policy and implementation will help drive long-term progress.
Project Scope and Objectives
The total upgrade, which involves widening 25,000 km of existing two-lane highways to four lanes, will take about two years to complete, with detailed project reports already in preparation. Simultaneously, plans are underway to expand 16,000 km of four-lane highways to six lanes for about Rs 6 lakh crore. These are highways with high traffic volumes that, once expanded, will reduce congestion and pollution and improve economic performance.
Some of the upgrades prioritized by the Government are in challenging terrain, such as Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern states, and the hilly states of Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Infrastructure here involves the construction of 105 tunnels worth about Rs 2 lakh crore to facilitate year-round access. The most iconic project in this area is the Zojila tunnel, the longest sub-zero-temperature tunnel in Asia, which will reduce the driving time between Jammu and Srinagar from 7 to 3.5 hours.
Road Safety and Economic Impact
Annually, more or less 480,000 road accidents occur in India, claiming about 188,000 lives, with almost 18 to 45 people presenting the highest percentage of victims. Reportedly, road accidents cost India about 3% of the country’s annual GDP. Through a quality toll highway project, accidents can be reduced by about 50% by 2030 by enhancing road quality, in addition to other road safety measures and traffic systems. Also, innovative technologies such as QR codes installed at highway project sites and public monitoring via video to prevent drowning and increase transparency and accountability of work intentions.
Smart and Sustainable Infrastructure
However, the upgrade program is sustainable and designed to modernise. Thousands of trees have been planted along expressways to maintain environmental balance. The precedent is precast technology, which is being mandated across states to ensure rapid, high-quality infrastructure. The Government has an agenda to build smart roads, connected to public services, ERP, EVs, digital fabricators, pedestrian ways, and freight corridors, which will increase efficiency as logistics and fuel expenses will decrease due to this integration.
Economic Growth and Future Prospects
Needless to say, the road and transport sector is crucial and substantially contributes to the Indian economy through revenue and job creation. The Ministry’s revenue will further increase from Rs 55,000 crore to Rs 1.4 lakh crore shortly. As road transport accounts for 80 per cent of goods traffic in India, there is an indispensable need to develop highways to enhance economic activity in this country. The Minister noted that India would surpass the US in the number of highway locations in two years, clearly demonstrating the pace of transformation in Indian infrastructure. The multi-trillion-rupee spending will serve as a critical driver of expanding safety and resilience on Indian roads. Similarly, it will serve as a booster dose to ensure access to ports, thereby increasing religious and adventure tourism in India. Overall, the initiative will significantly contribute to India’s smart development goals. It is expected to be one of the most extensive highway programs, ensuring cost-effective travel options for the population.