The Expressway Effect: How India's Highways Are Redefining Connectivity

The Indian government has made an ambitious goal of building 10,000 km of national highways in 2025-26, a strategic move towards high-quality infrastructure. Although the number is less than in earlier years, the thrust is on the development of 3,300 km of access-controlled expressways with the target of raising the overall length of high-speed corridors to 5,800 km. This shift is towards efficiency rather than just expansion, and four-lane highways are proposed to be increased by 8%. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is projecting ₹35,000 crore worth of private investments via the Build-Operate-Transfer format. In spite of the hindrances, the recasting envisages quicker connections among economic centres and better general quality of roads.

 

Sources: Times of India, Financial Express, Economic Times