Road Infrastructure in India

Government Initiatives

Some of the recent Government initiatives are as follows:

• On October 29, 2025, the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Mr. Nitin Gadkari, announced a plan to upgrade 25,000 km of highways focusing on smart, sustainable road infrastructure, emphasizing economic development, investment, and employment generation. The sector’s revenue is expected to grow from Rs. 55,000 crore (US$ 6.17 billion) to Rs. 1.4 lakh crore (US$ 15.70 billion) within two years. This includes upgrading two-lane highways into four lanes to improve logistics and reduce costs.
• In September 2025, the government announced a massive Rs. 11 lakh crore (US$ 125 billion) initiative to build 17,000 km of high-speed, access-controlled expressways by 2033. About 40% of these are already under construction, with most expected to be completed by 2030.
• On September 9, 2025, Delhi received an Rs. 803 crore (US$ 90.93 million) boost under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for more than 140 road and flyover upgrade projects.
• On September 3, 2025, the government announced plans to introduce Bharat NCAP-like safety standards specifically for e-rickshaws, which are large in number across the country. This initiative seeks to improve road safety for this category of vehicles, inspired by the existing Bharat NCAP program launched in 2023.
• On August 22, 2025, Chief Minister of Odisha, Mr. Mohan Charan Majhi unveiled an ambitious plan to construct 30,000 km of rural roads and 500 bridges over five years. The plan focuses on quality, maintenance, and prioritizes tribal and Maoist-affected areas, aligning with PMGSY Phase-IV.
• On August 13, 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, launched the "Road Safety Mitra" initiative across 19 districts of Maharashtra. This campaign engages college students in promoting safe driving habits and assisting during emergencies.
• In August 2025, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways released Rs. 120.15 crore (US$ 13.61 million) under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) to Uttarakhand for road repair.
• As of August 2025, under Bharatmala, 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) are being developed with an estimated outlay of Rs. 50,000 crore (US$ 5.66 billion), supporting logistics and freight efficiency.
• By July 2025, the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan had enabled the evaluation and integrated planning of 293 infrastructure projects worth Rs. 13.59 lakh crore (US$ 153.89 billion).
• By March 2025, under Bharatmala Pariyojana, a total of 20,378 km of roads had been constructed with projects awarded for 26,425 km. This included strategic roads like the Frontier Highway on the Indo-Tibet Myanmar border and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
• On March 19, 2025, the Cabinet approved the construction of a 29.219 km 6-lane access-controlled greenfield highway from JNPA Port (Pagote) to Chowk in Maharashtra at a cost of Rs. 4,500.62 crore (US$ 509.64 million).
• In January 2025, Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi launched metro development projects worth over Rs. 12,200 crore (US$ 1.43 billion) in Delhi.
• During FY25 (up to December 2024), 27 projects covering 526 km at an approved cost of Rs. 5,884 crore (US$ 668.03 million) were awarded in the NER.
• As of December 2024, 190 projects spanning 3,848 km were active in the North-East, costing Rs. 82,452 crore (US$ 9.36 billion). Assam accounted for 53 projects over 978 km, Arunachal Pradesh 19 projects covering 354 km, Manipur 34 projects covering 736 km, Meghalaya 16 projects covering 301 km, Mizoram 14 projects spanning 436 km, Nagaland 28 projects totaling 589 km, Sikkim 13 projects covering 197 km, and Tripura 13 projects over 258 km.
• As of December 2024, 16,125 km of National Highways had been constructed in the North-Eastern Region over the past decade. Of the total NH length in the region, 6,844 km is with NHIDCL, 6,787 km with State Governments, 778 km with NHAI, 1,228 km with BRO, and 488 km yet to be entrusted.
• The Union Cabinet approved the implementation of Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (2024-29) with a total outlay of Rs. 70,125 crore (US$ 8.21 billion) for constructing 62,500 km of roads to connect 25,000 unconnected habitations and upgrade bridges.
• The government plans to develop about 26,000 km of economic corridors along with improving the Golden Quadrilateral and North-South East-West corridors. The Bharatmala scheme also emphasizes coastal and port connectivity, border roads, feeder routes, and greenfield expressways, all targeted for completion within five years from the announcement.
• India is planning to upgrade 25,000 km of two-lane highways to four lanes at Rs. 10,00,000 crore (US$ 117 billion). Additionally, 16,000 km of four-lane highways will be expanded to six lanes for Rs. 6,00,000 crore (US$ 69.93 billion). The work is expected to start by 2027.
• In the Union Budget 2025-26, the government proposed to increase allocation for capital expenditure to Rs. 11.21 lakh crore (US$ 129.0 billion), up 10.1% from the revised budget estimate of Rs. 10.18 lakh crore (US$ 117.2 billion) in FY25.
• Under the Union Budget 2025-26, the government allocated Rs. 2,87,333.3 crore (US$ 33.07 billion) to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, reflecting an increase of 2.41% compared to FY25.
• Over the past decade, under PMGSY, the target of connecting all habitations with population above thresholds has been met. This has improved rural connectivity and socio-economic transformation in rural areas.
• In a significant effort to enhance infrastructure, the government approved eight national high-speed corridor projects involving 936 km of highways at a total cost of Rs. 50,655 crore (US$ 6.09 billion).
• Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Mr. Nitin Gadkari, along with the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 29 National Highway projects covering 272 km and costing Rs. 5,233 crore (US$ 592.57 million).
• The GST on two-wheelers under 350cc was reduced from 28% to 18%, small cars to 18%, large cars to 40%, tractors from 12% to 5%, and buses with more than 10 seats from 28% to 18%. These reductions are expected to boost demand, support fleet expansion, and lower freight costs.