Infrastructure
As Focus Shifts To E-ways, Centre Plans Change In Construction Norm To ‘Lane Km'
The total length of highways built in 2023-24 witnessed a 53 per cent increase compared to the 4,331 km constructed in 2021-22. (Representative Image)
The centre is set to shift its approach to measuring highway construction in the country, moving from the 'road km' metric to 'lane km' starting this fiscal year.
This change reflects a heightened emphasis on constructing more expressways and roads with at least four lanes.
Presently, the linear length method gauges the progress of constructing and widening national highways (NHs), treating every kilometre of both a six-lane road and a two-lane road as equivalent to 1 km.
In fact, even railways calculate the laying of tracks and electrification in terms of route km.
“Overall highway construction as per current road km norm is almost at peak. Now we are building more high-speed roads & expressways. Hence, going ahead with the current norms will have little relevance,” reports ET.
In order to maintain data consistency when compared with previous years, the records of national highway construction from earlier periods will be converted into lane kilometres.
Last year, a significant controversy erupted following a report by the CAG, which highlighted the "very high" civil construction cost of the 29-km Dwarka expressway.
The report indicated an average cost per kilometre of Rs 251 crore, compared to the government-approved Rs 18.2 crore per kilometre. In response, the highway ministry emphasised that the stretch, inclusive of elevated and underground structures, was 563 lane km.
Support Swarajya's 50 Ground Reports Project & Sponsor A Story
Every general election Swarajya does a 50 ground reports project.
Aimed only at serious readers and those who appreciate the nuances of political undercurrents, the project provides a sense of India's electoral landscape. As you know, these reports are produced after considerable investment of travel, time and effort on the ground.
This time too we've kicked off the project in style and have covered over 30 constituencies already. If you're someone who appreciates such work and have enjoyed our coverage please consider sponsoring a ground report for just Rs 2999 to Rs 19,999 - it goes a long way in helping us produce more quality reportage.
You can also back this project by becoming a subscriber for as little as Rs 999 - so do click on this links and choose a plan that suits you and back us.
Click below to contribute.
Latest
