The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has projected that the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, a flagship infrastructure initiative by the Modi administration, will likely be completed by 2027-28. This announcement comes as the project faces financial revisions and adjustments.
Launched with the aim of enhancing road connectivity through economic corridors, interstate links, and feeder routes, the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I is a cornerstone of the government’s infrastructure strategy. According to MoRTH’s annual report for 2023-24, the project’s total length spans approximately 34,800 km across 31 states and Union Territories, covering over 550 districts.
To date, 26,425 km of the project has been awarded, with 17,411 km already constructed. The updated completion target reflects an extension from previous timelines, driven by increased costs and complex land acquisition processes. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) initially approved the project in June 2017, and it has since faced various financial and logistical challenges. The Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to develop about 26,000 km of economic corridors, which, alongside the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and North-South and East-West (NS-EW) Corridors, are projected to handle a substantial portion of road freight traffic. Additionally, approximately 8,000 km of interstate corridors and 7,500 km of feeder routes are being developed to optimise the efficiency of these economic corridors.
The estimated cost of the Bharatmala Pariyojana is Rs 6,92,324 crore. Funding is sourced from the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund cess (Rs 2,37,024 crore), remittances (Rs 46,048 crore), additional budgetary support (Rs 59,973 crore), and expected revenue from national highway monetisation through the Toll-Operate-Transfer model (Rs 34,000 crore). Private sector investments and Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR) contribute significantly to the project’s financing. Due to escalating costs, including those associated with land acquisition, MoRTH is processing a revised financial proposal to secure necessary approvals. This revised budget is critical to accommodating the increased expenditure and ensuring the project’s successful completion.
Furthermore, MoRTH has outlined a Vision 2047 for the National Highways sector, which will guide the development of the Master Plan for National Highways and related infrastructure. This vision underscores the commitment to advancing India’s road network and enhancing its overall transport infrastructure. As the Bharatmala Pariyojana progresses, the updated timeline and financial adjustments highlight the complexities of large-scale infrastructure projects and the ongoing efforts to meet national development goals.
