MoS Harsh Malhotra affirms the government’s push for world-class roads; India now has the 2nd-largest national highway network globally.
In a significant address at the Road and Highways Summit in Delhi today, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road, Transport & Highways, Shri Harsh Malhotra, reaffirmed the government’s resolute commitment to developing world-class road and transport infrastructure as a critical driver for Viksit Bharat@2047.
Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the strategic guidance of Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has expanded India’s national highways network from 91,000 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km today, making it the second-largest in the world.
Shri Malhotra described these highways as “lifelines of progress,” not just roads, connecting people, industries, and opportunities across the nation. He emphasised that this transformation has significantly improved travel experience by making it faster, safer, and more comfortable.
Investment, Employment & Regional Development
Highlighting the economic impact, the minister noted a 6.4x growth in road infrastructure spending from FY2013–14 to FY2024–25, alongside a 57% increase in budget allocations for MoRTH since 2014. This push has yielded massive employment, creating 45 crore man-days of direct employment, 57 crore man-days indirectly, and 532 crore man-days of induced employment across sectors.
The government’s development agenda has also extended to the Northeastern Region, with over 10,000 km of national highways built in the last decade, reinforcing the Centre’s commitment to inclusive connectivity.
Urban Connectivity and Delhi Decongestion
The minister unveiled components of the Delhi Decongestion Plan, including:
- Extension of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway (NE-5) to UER-II (NH-344M),
- Linking UER-II to Delhi-Dehradun Expressway (NH-709B),
- A road tunnel from Dwarka Expressway to Nelson Mandela Marg near Vasant Kunj.
These projects aim to ease traffic, reduce pollution, and enhance interstate freight mobility.
Sustainability, Safety & Amenities
Shri Malhotra announced the development of 700+ Wayside Amenities (WSAs) by 2028–29, which will offer EV charging stations, restrooms, food courts, and fuel outlets, directly supporting freight and passenger logistics.
On safety, he highlighted the rectification of 14,000 accident-prone blackspots and the implementation of schemes like the Good Samaritan Scheme and Cashless Golden Hour Scheme.
Environmentally, over 4.78 crore trees have been planted, and 70,000 transplanted under the Green Highways Policy and the ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’ initiative. Additionally, MoRTH has adopted green construction methods, using 80 lakh tonnes of plastic waste and fly ash in key projects like UER-II and the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway.
Building a Resilient Bharat
Concluding his address, Shri Malhotra stated, “Every rupee invested in highways brings a threefold return to GDP, unlocks jobs, and boosts revenues. The government is not just building roads; it is laying the foundation for a prosperous, peaceful, and resilient Bharat.”
Source: PIB
