Indian govt. announces ₹10 lakh crore project to widen 25,000 km of highways across the country
The Union government has announced an ambitious plan to upgrade India’s National Highways, aiming to enhance road safety, reduce travel time, and improve connectivity across the country. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari revealed the details in the Lok Sabha on Thursday, outlining a ₹10 lakh crore project to convert 25,000 km of two-lane highways into four lanes. Additionally, 16,000 km of highways will be expanded to six lanes at a cost of ₹6 trillion.
A Push to Reduce Road Accidents
Gadkari emphasized that this expansion will play a crucial role in curbing India’s alarming road accident rates. With 480,000 accidents and 188,000 fatalities annually—mostly involving young adults—the economic toll amounts to 3% of GDP. The government aims to halve these numbers by 2030 through improved infrastructure.
Key Projects in Focus
Among the major developments, Jammu & Kashmir is witnessing road projects worth ₹2 trillion, including the construction of 105 tunnels. The Zojila tunnel, set to be Asia’s longest in a sub-zero region, is now expected to cost ₹5,500 crore—significantly lower than initial estimates.
The Jammu-Srinagar Highway, with 36 planned tunnels (22 already completed), will slash travel time from seven hours to just three. Meanwhile, the Delhi-Katra Expressway will reduce the journey from 12 hours to six.
Highways to Surpass US Standards
Confident in India’s progress, Gadkari stated that within two years, the country’s highway network will surpass that of the United States in quality and scale. “Our highway network will be even better than the US,” he declared.
With detailed project reports in progress, the government aims to complete these upgrades within two years, marking a transformative phase for India’s road infrastructure.
