India has unveiled an ambitious $125 billion (₹11 lakh crore) plan to revolutionize its transport infrastructure by building a modern, high-speed road network by 2033. The move will improve connectivity, reduce travel time, lower logistics costs, and boost economic growth.
Key Highlights
- Total Expansion: 17,000 km of access-controlled roads, allowing speeds up to 120 km/h.
- Timeline:
- 40% of the network under construction, to finish before 2030.
- Remaining corridors to start by 2028 and complete by 2033.
- Comparisons:
- China: Over 180,000 km expressways since 1990s.
- US: 75,000 km interstate highways.
- Current India Stats (March 2025):
- National Highway Network: 146,000 km
- High-Speed Standard Roads: Only 4,500 km
- Ambitious Timeline: Relies on hybrid financing to attract private capital.
Financing Model
- BOT Model (Build-Operate-Transfer): For projects with ≥15% returns; private players recover cost via tolls.
- Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM): Govt covers 40% cost upfront, balance recovered via annuity + tolls.
- Private Participation: Govt aims to increase participation; currently most projects under HAM.
Budget & Government Role
- NHAI (National Highways Authority of India): Spent ₹2.5 trillion in FY 2023-24 (+21% YoY).
- Budget Allocation: Increased to ₹2.9 trillion for FY 2025-26.
- Wider Infrastructure Push: Logistics, industrial corridors, and freight projects aligned.
Key Projects & Benefits
Expressways
- Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (1,386 km): Travel time cut 24 hrs → 12 hrs.
- Dwarka Expressway (29 km): Delhi–Gurugram link, reduces congestion.
- Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway (701 km): Boosts intra-Maharashtra connectivity.
High-Speed Corridors
- Hyderabad–Bengaluru (618 km): Links major IT hubs.
- Nagpur–Varanasi (855 km): Connects central India.
Smart & Regional Connectivity
- AI-enabled “Intelligent Highways”: Example – Dwarka Expressway with AI traffic management.
- Regional Roads: Karamana–Vellarada Road (Kerala), Hyderabad–Bandar Port link.
Logistics Push
- Investment: $5.45 billion for 79 logistics projects.
- Development of freight corridors, logistics parks & warehouses.
- Aim: Lower logistics cost (~13–14% of GDP currently, higher than global average ~8%).
Significance
- Will reduce travel & freight time, boost trade and regional growth.
- Strengthens India’s global competitiveness in supply chains.
- Supports Bharatmala Pariyojana goals of multi-lane expressways and economic corridors.
- Enhances India’s role in Asia’s infrastructure growth story.
Key Facts
- NHAI (National Highways Authority of India): Established in 1988, under MoRTH (Ministry of Road Transport & Highways).
- Bharatmala Pariyojana: Launched in 2017, aims to develop 49,260 km of highways.
- National Highways Development Project (NHDP): Initiated in 1998, included Golden Quadrilateral & NS-EW Corridor.
- Golden Quadrilateral: Connects Delhi–Mumbai–Chennai–Kolkata, ~5,846 km, launched under PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
- World’s Longest Expressway Network: China, with over 180,000 km.
- Longest Expressway in India (Operational): Purvanchal Expressway (340.8 km, UP) until Mumbai–Nagpur Expressway (701 km) became operational in parts.