On Friday, the Narendra Modi government approved eight major National High-Speed Road Corridor Projects spanning a total of 936 kilometers, with an investment of ₹50,655 crore. This initiative aims to enhance logistics efficiency, alleviate congestion, and improve connectivity across India.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced, “The Cabinet has given the green light to eight key National High-Speed Road Corridor Projects, totaling over ₹50,000 crore. This investment will significantly boost logistics efficiency, reduce traffic congestion, and strengthen nationwide connectivity.”
The approved projects include the six-lane Agra-Gwalior Corridor, the four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram Corridor, the six-lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad Corridor, the four-lane Ayodhya Ring Road, a five-lane segment of the Raipur-Ranchi Corridor between Pathalgaon and Gumla, the six-lane Kanpur Ring Road, the four-lane Northern Guwahati Bypass and its widening, and an eight-lane elevated corridor near Pune from Nashik Phata to Khed.
Vaishnaw highlighted the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, stating, “The 140 crore Indians gave Prime Minister Modi a historic mandate, leading to a third consecutive term for the government. Following this, ₹76,000 crore will be invested in Vadhavan Port.”
The government emphasized that infrastructure development is crucial for economic growth and improving citizens’ quality of life. It noted that every rupee invested in infrastructure has a multiplier effect of 2.5-3.0 times on GDP. Additionally, capital investment in National Highways, including private contributions, has surged from ₹50,000 crore in 2013-14 to approximately ₹3.1 lakh crore in 2023-24. The government also adopted a corridor-based approach to highway development, aiming for consistent standards and improved logistics efficiency, as opposed to the previous project-based approach focused on local congestion.