30,000 km two-lane roads to be transformed into four-lane highways

The Indian government plans to allocate ₹10 lakh crore to upgrade 30,000 km of two-lane roads into four-lane highways, aiming to improve connectivity and boost economic growth.

The Indian government plans to upgrade 25,000 to 30,000 kilometres of two-lane highways into four-lane corridors, with an estimated investment of ₹10 lakh crore (approximately $117 billion). This move aims to boost India’s economic growth and improve road safety throughout the country.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, emphasises the importance of infrastructure development in transforming India into a strong economic power. He stated that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will promote the use of the Infrastructure Investment Trust (Invit) model to attract Indian investors to highway projects.

The InvIT model, similar to mutual funds, pools investors’ money to invest in infrastructure assets, providing them with consistent returns. This approach is expected to speed up the funding process for major highway projects.

Gadkari also announced plans to revise the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, under which the government would collect tolls for 15 years and share a portion with concessionaires. This revision aims to improve the quality of highway construction and maintenance.
The government plans to expand 16,000 km of national highways into six-lane roads for an estimated cost of ₹6 lakh crore. These projects are part of a larger plan to reduce road accidents by 50 percent by 2030.

The detailed project reports for these upgrades are currently underway, and the work is expected to be completed within two years. Once completed, these improved highways will improve connectivity and significantly reduce traffic accidents, resulting in safer and more efficient transportation throughout the country.