India Eyes 100 Km Per Day Highway Construction Rate As Gadkari Sets Ambitious Road Expansion Target

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Tuesday (15 April) set a goal to expedite highway construction pace to 100 km per day.

Addressing the 10th National Leadership Conclave organised by the All India Management Association (AIMA), Gadkari emphasised the pivotal role of infrastructure development in India’s growth trajectory.

“Infrastructure development is very important for India... I am working to accelerate the pace of highway construction in the country to 100 km per day,” Gadkari said, news agency PTI reported.

Gadkari asserted that that within the next 18 months, the country’s road infrastructure will surpass that of the United States of America.

He noted that the rate of highway construction in the country reached a remarkable 37 kilometres per day during the year 2020-21.

Gadkari also pointed out that the ministry plans to construct 25,000 km of two and four-lane highways in the coming years, stressing that there is no shortage of funding. “There is no dearth of money for the highways projects,” he stated.

According to official data, India has been making consistent strides in highway development. The MoRTH constructed 10,237 km in 2019-20, peaking at 13,435 km in 2020-21, followed by 10,457 km in 2021-22, 10,331 km in 2022-23, and 12,349 km in 2023-24.

In a significant boost to urban infrastructure, Gadkari also revealed that the central government is currently working on infrastructure projects worth Rs 1 lakh crore aimed at transforming Delhi.

Also Read: Setback For CM Siddaramaiah As Karnataka Court Allows Further Probe Into MUDA Case