Despite pandemic, India marches forward with huge growth of National Highways

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, beneath the stewardship of Nitin Gadkari has been setting new milestones with a number of freeway initiatives being allotted and rolled out in an outlined timeframe.

Expediting Bharatmala Pariyojana, making highways freed from toll plazas, containing accidents on crimson lights are among the initiatives actively pursued by Road Transport Minister.

In final 6 years of NDA rule, the Ministry has taken a number of coverage selections.

In 2019-20, initiatives with about 8948 km size was awarded and about 10,237 km size of street development was accomplished. The price of improvement of roads has elevated considerably from about 11.7 km throughout 2013-14 to about 28 km now.

Due to constant efforts of the Ministry, size of the National Highways (NHs) has elevated from 91,287 km in April, 2014 to about 1,36,155 km as on 20 December 2020.

The Ministry proposes to develop further 60,000 km of National Highways within the subsequent 5 years, of which 2500 km are Expressways /Access Controlled Highways, 9000 km Economic Corridors, 2000 km for Coastal and Port Connectivity Highways and 2000 km Border Road/ Strategic Highways. The Ministry additionally intends to enhance connectivity for 100 vacationer locations and assemble Bypasses for 45 cities/cities throughout this era.

Expenditure of Ministry elevated from Rs 33,745 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,50,841 crore in 2019-20. Also non-public funding amounting to Rs 21,926 crore has been achieved throughout 2019-20. During the present 12 months, an expenditure of Rs 79,415 crore has already been incurred until November 2020, together with IEBR of NHAI. Also non-public funding of Rs 8,186 crore has been achieved as much as November 2020.