The road transport ministry seeks Cabinet approval for a ₹22 lakh crore plan to develop 30,600 km of highways by 2031-32.
In a significant move for infrastructure enhancement, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has sought Cabinet approval for a massive ₹22 lakh crore investment to develop approximately 30,600 km of highways by 2031-32. The comprehensive plan, presented to the finance ministry and shared with key ministries, includes constructing 18,000 km of expressways and high-speed corridors, decongesting 4,000 km of national highways around urban areas, and building strategic and international roads. Notably, about 35 percent of this investment will come from the private sector.
The highway development master plan will unfold in two phases. According to officials in an inter-ministerial meeting chaired by Road Transport Secretary Anurag Jain, the ministry aims to tender all phase-1 projects by 2028-29 and complete them by 2031-32. The interim budget allocated ₹2,78,000 crore to the ministry, marking a 2.7 percent increase from the previous year, with a request for a 10 percent annual budgetary increase moving forward.
The second phase will focus on developing an additional 28,400 km, with financial estimates and project awards expected to conclude by 2033-34 and construction by 2036-37. Analysis of GSTN data revealed that road transport handled 73 percent of freight in 2021-22, highlighting the necessity for improved highways. Upon completion, the average truck travel speed on national highways is projected to rise to 85 kmph, potentially reducing logistics costs to 9-10 percent of GDP and significantly enhancing transportation efficiency across India.
