National Highway Expansion- India’s NHs witness 60% surge in length in last ten years – Details inside

National Highway Expansion: India’s NHs witness 60% surge in length in last ten years – Details inside

India’s national highways have witnessed a remarkable expansion, marking a substantial 60% surge in their total length since 2014 when the Narendra Modi-led government assumed office. Anurag Jain, the Secretary of Road Transport and Highways, revealed this development during a press conference on Friday.

Jain highlighted the significant growth in the national highway network, reporting an increase in length from 91,287 km in 2014 to an impressive 1,46,145 km by December 2023. Furthermore, the extensive stretch of four-lane and higher national highways soared from 18,387 km in 2014 to 46,179 km in December 2023, marking a substantial 2.5-fold rise.

The road ministry, underlining its relentless efforts, revealed that it had successfully constructed 6,217 km of national highways by December in the 2023-24 fiscal year.

Construction expenses to surge by 9.4 times

Highlighting the financial aspect, Jain emphasized that the expenditure on highway construction is projected to escalate significantly, expecting a surge by 9.4 times, reaching Rs 3.17 lakh crore in 2023 from the figures recorded in 2014.

The announcement also shed light on the progress of the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, stating that 44 registered vehicle scrapping facilities are operational across India. Additionally, 19 states/Union Territories have announced concessions on motor vehicle tax as part of this initiative, resulting in the scrapping of approximately 49,770 vehicles thus far.

Jain also noted that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has amassed Rs 18,450 crore as toll revenue until December in the ongoing financial year, showcasing a steady financial growth trajectory in the road infrastructure domain.

(With inputs from PTI)