India has embarked on an ambitious journey to modernise and expand its road and rail networks, with substantial investments aimed at boosting economic growth and enhancing national connectivity. This strategic overhaul is central to India’s broader vision of becoming a global economic powerhouse.
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways has underscored the crucial role that robust infrastructure plays in driving economic prosperity. Displayed prominently in the office of the Minister is a modified quote from former US President John F. Kennedy, illustrating the critical link between infrastructure and economic development: “It’s not our wealth that built our roads. It’s our roads that built our wealth.”
Currently, the highways sector benefits from an annual allocation exceeding Rs 2 lakh crore, facilitating the construction, upgrade, and maintenance of over 10,000 km of roads each year. Over the past decade, this sector has seen a 60 percent expansion, bringing the total network to approximately 1.4 lakh km. Notable projects, such as the greenfield Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, are set to revolutionise travel, slashing the journey time between the two cities from 48 hours to just 12. In parallel, India’s rail infrastructure is undergoing a significant upgrade. The annual funding for the railways has surged from around Rs 53,000 crore in 2014-15 to a remarkable Rs 2.5 lakh crore this year, reflecting a 15 percent annual increase. The long-term goal is to reduce travel time between major cities like Delhi and Kolkata, or Chennai and Mumbai, to just 6-8 hours.
The Modi government’s ambitious capital expenditure plan, known as the National Infrastructure Pipeline, allocates Rs 111 lakh crore for the period 2020-2025. This investment is intended to propel India towards its target of becoming a $5 trillion economy. Key areas of focus include a significant boost in power infrastructure, with a quarter of the funds directed towards enhancing generation, transmission, and distribution capabilities. The initiative also seeks to increase the share of non-fossil fuels in the energy mix from 42 percent to 64 percent by 2030. A substantial portion of the funding is earmarked for roads and railways, improving connectivity and facilitating faster, more efficient transport of goods and passengers. This has already resulted in a nearly 50 percent reduction in turnaround time for ships at Indian ports, which now average about 48 hours. Ports have also doubled their cargo handling capacity to over 1,600 million tonnes.
Looking ahead, the government plans to invest heavily in new high-speed national highway corridors, including a four-lane Ayodhya Ring Road and a significant eight-lane elevated corridor between Nashik Phata and Khed near Pune. Over the next two decades, over 50,000 km of new greenfield expressways are expected to be developed, with total capital expenditure projected to exceed Rs 20 lakh crore. The rail network expansion includes multi-tracking major routes and converting the Golden Quadrilateral into semi-high-speed corridors. The introduction of Vande Bharat Express trains, along with nearly complete electrification and expansion of the rail network by 25,000 km, highlights India’s commitment to modernising its transport infrastructure. The Metro network now serves 20 cities, underscoring the shift towards improved urban mobility.
Aviation is also experiencing rapid growth, with India becoming the third-largest domestic aviation market globally. The expansion includes orders for over 1,000 new aircraft, signalling a robust future for India’s aviation sector. The goal is to strengthen the aviation ecosystem and establish multiple hubs, positioning India as a significant global aviation player. In summary, India’s comprehensive infrastructure investments are set to dramatically enhance connectivity, reduce logistics costs, and drive economic growth. This strategic focus on modernising transport networks and expanding capacity underscores the country’s commitment to building a resilient, efficient, and sustainable infrastructure system.
