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The pace of construction of national highways dipped from 6,216 km in FY 2024 to 5,853 in FY25 between April and December—an around six per cent drop. Awarding too has been impacted
In 2021-22, up to December, the ministry awarded 6,185 km of national highway projects. In 2022-23, awarding was done for 7,263 km of projects during the same period. Last year, in 2023-24, it was 3,111 km and this year it is 3,100 km, MoRTH data shows. Representational image/ANI
When compared to the April-December period of the last financial year, the performance of the ministry of road transport and highways in terms of new highway building and awarding was low in 2024-25, the Economic Survey shows.
The pace of construction of national highways dipped from 6,216 km in FY 2024 to 5,853 in FY25 between April and December—an around six per cent drop. Awarding too has been impacted.
In 2021-22, up to December, the ministry awarded 6,185 km of national highway projects. In 2022-23, awarding was done for 7,263 km of projects during the same period. Last year, in 2023-24, it was 3,111 km and this year it is 3,100 km, MoRTH data shows.
Last year, News18 reported that in the first five months of the current financial year, the ministry managed to award just 1,152 kilometres of national highway projects—a six-year low.
The pace of road building for the April-December period was 22.6 km per day on average in FY24, which dropped to 21.2 km per day on average in FY25. On the other hand, when compared to 2022-23, with per day awarding at 26 km on average, the per day awarding this FY stood at 11 km.
Char Dham Mahamarg Pariyojna inching towards completion
Char Dham Mahamarg Pariyojna—the all-weather road to Yamunotri, Gangotri, Kedarnath, and Badrinath in Uttarakhand—is inching towards completion.
The project connecting Char Dhams is spread over 825 kilometres.
“As of 2024, road project to connect all four dhams through highways with a total length of 825 km and 620 km has been completed,” the report said.
Being developed at a cost of Rs 11,700 crore, the deadline for the project was December 2024.
‘India needs a continued step-up of infrastructure investment’
The Economic Survey said that India needs a continued step-up of infrastructure investment over the next two decades to sustain a high growth rate.
“Accelerating our efforts to build integrated multi-modal transport, coupled with the modernisation of existing physical assets, will improve efficiency and last-mile connectivity. Disaster-resilient urbanisation, public transport, preservation and upkeep of heritage sites, monuments and tourist destinations, as well as rural public infrastructure, including connectivity, call for greater attention. Our Net Zero commitments entail added stress on creating renewable energy capacities,” it said.
