Transforming India's Highways: Gadkari's ₹10 Lakh Crore Vision

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has unveiled an ambitious plan to invest ₹10 lakh crore over the next two years to revolutionize India's highway infrastructure. The initiative aims to enhance connectivity across the country, with a special focus on the Northeast, where roads are set to rival those in the United States.  

 

The project encompasses 784 highway developments in eastern states, covering 21,355 km at an estimated cost of ₹3.73 lakh crore. In the Northeast alone, excluding Assam, projects worth ₹1 lakh crore are underway this year. Gadkari emphasized the urgent need to upgrade road infrastructure in the region, given its challenging terrain and strategic importance near international borders.  

 

The plan also includes a mass rapid transport pilot project in Nagpur, featuring a 135-seater bus powered by non-polluting energy sources. If successful, this model will be replicated nationwide, including on the Delhi-Jaipur route.  

 

India's National Highway network has expanded significantly, growing from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1,46,204 km today. The proportion of highways below two lanes has dropped from 30% to just 9%, reflecting improved standards.  

 

Sources: Moneycontrol, The Hindu, Economic Times.