In a notable development, the share of highway stretches with four lanes or more constructed in India during the period from April to January of the current financial year has reached an unprecedented level, constituting nearly 43% of the total National Highway (NH) infrastructure built in 2023-24.
This surge marks the highest-ever proportion, reflecting a shift in focus towards the construction of wider highways and expressways. Despite only marginal increases in the share of four-, six-, and eight-lane stretches compared to the previous year, the overall construction pace has experienced a substantial 16% rise, resulting in the completion of 3,297 kilometres of highways. Officials anticipate a further increase in this proportion over the remaining two months of the fiscal year, surpassing the figures from the previous year. Contrary to the past trend where the emphasis was on strengthening existing stretches and widening NHs to only two lanes, the current approach prioritises the creation of wider highways and expressways. The Government data indicates that this strategic shift became prominent in the fiscal year 2019-20, leading to a threefold increase in the annual construction rate of highways with more than four lanes compared to 2013-14.
A closer look at the data reveals a significant uptrend in the construction of four-lane and above highways. In 2013-14, a total of 1,332 kilometres were built, a figure that escalated to an impressive 4,635 kilometres in 2022-23. Over the past decade, the length of NHs with less than two lanes has witnessed a substantial reduction, decreasing from 27,517 kilometres in March 2014 to the current 14,300 kilometres. Anticipating a continuation of the current trend, officials project a potential surpassing of last year’s record. The focus on constructing wider highways aligns with the increasing demand for efficient transportation infrastructure. Recognising the need for faster vehicular movement, officials acknowledge that, ideally, highways should feature at least four lanes with divided carriageways in plains, while two-lane roads remain enough in areas with lower traffic demand, such as hills. As the government intensifies its commitment to building robust transport infrastructure to alleviate logistics costs, the forthcoming phase of highway development emphasises the construction of expressways and access-controlled stretches. The Ministry of Road Transport aims to elevate the length of four-lane and above highways from the current 47,000 kilometres to an ambitious 75,000 kilometres by 2030, concurrently converting all NHs to at least two-lane highways.
This rapid pace in NH construction owes itself to a substantial increase in budgetary allocations, soaring from Rs 31,130 crore in 2013-14 to a notable Rs 2.8 lakh crore for 2024-25. The overall investment in the highway sector, inclusive of private investments, has witnessed a remarkable surge from Rs 59,135 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 2.23 lakh crore in 2023-24, underscoring the nation’s commitment to bolstering its transportation infrastructure.
