Published at March 29, 2025 by InfraJunction
India's road infrastructure is undergoing a major transformation, with expressway projects significantly improving connectivity and supporting economic growth. The national highway network has expanded by 60% over the last ten years, showing the government's commitment to modernising transportation.
According to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, the total length of India's national highways increased from 91,287 km in March 2014 to 1,46,204 km in 2024. This expansion has taken place across several states, including Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and the Northeastern region.
The road transport and highways sector has received a significant boost in budgetary allocation. In 2013-14, the budget for this sector was Rs 31,130 crore. However, by 2024-25, it has grown nearly ten times to Rs 3,00,019 crore.
Additionally, capital expenditure on national highways has increased sharply. In 2013-14, the expenditure was around Rs 51,000 crore, whereas in 2023-24, it reached Rs 3.01 lakh crore. With this increased spending, the length of four-lane and wider highways has more than doubled, growing from 18,371 km in 2014 to 48,430 km now.
At the same time, the proportion of highways with less than two lanes has dropped significantly. In 2014, these narrow roads made up 30% of the total highway network. Now, they account for only 9%, making travel safer and more efficient.
Expressways and high-speed corridors have also expanded across India. Currently, about 2,474 km of National High-Speed Corridors (HSCs) and expressways are operational. These projects have not only improved connectivity but also enhanced logistics efficiency, benefiting businesses and transportation services.
The government has introduced several key initiatives to further develop road infrastructure. One of the most important schemes is Bharatmala Pariyojana, which aims to build around 65,000 km of national highways. This includes economic corridors, feeder roads, border and international connectivity roads, and coastal and port connectivity highways.
Apart from expressways, efforts are being made to strengthen rural road networks. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) focuses on providing all-weather road connectivity to remote villages. Under this scheme, 8,10,250 km of roads were sanctioned, and as of July 2024, 7,65,601 km (94%) have already been constructed.
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