Surge in capital expenditure elevates National Highway development

In a significant stride, the capital expenditure on National Highways (NHs) has witnessed a remarkable upswing, escalating from approximately Rs. 51,000 Crore in 2013-14 to an impressive Rs. 2,40,000 Crore in 2022-23. The Ministry, entrusted with the development and upkeep of NHs, has experienced a substantial boost in its budgetary allocation, surging from Rs. 31,130 Crore in 2013-14 to Rs. 2,70,435 Crore in the fiscal year 2023-24.

This augmented financial backing has resulted in a noteworthy expansion of the NH network, stretching from 91,287 km in March 2014 to a commendable 1,46,145 km currently, encompassing states such as Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and the North-eastern states.

The development has seen a remarkable increase in the length of 4 Lane plus NH networks, including High-Speed Corridors, which has surged by over 250%, reaching about 46,179 km from 18,371 km in March 2014. Simultaneously, the length of less than 2 Lane NHs has decreased to about 10% of the NH network, standing at 14,870 km from 27,517 km in March 2014.

The Ministry’s strategic focus on greenfield High-Speed Corridors has led to the initiation of projects on 21 access-controlled corridors, covering approximately 3,336 km in length, with a significant portion already completed.

These developments have significantly enhanced connectivity and accessibility across the country, contributing to increased logistics efficiency. Notable completed projects include sections of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and key segments in Rajasthan and Meghalaya.

In addition to completed endeavors, various flagship projects, such as the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway, Raipur-Vishakhapatnam Economic Corridor, and Char Dham Projects in Uttarakhand, are currently in progress. Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, shared this information in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.