Highway construction touched 30 km/day in 2017-18

NEW DELHI: Highway construction and expansion in the country touched 10,800 km in 2017-18, which translates to nearly 30 km per day. While this is the highest ever construction of national highways (NHs) during the NDA regime, its predecessor UPA saw maximum highway construction in 2012-13 when it touched 5,732 km.


A comparative analysis of the recent data also shows that during last year of the current regime of NDA ending March 31 highway construction was almost two-and-a-half times more than the total construction reported during 2013-14. For Narendra Modi government, the huge jump in highway construction is one of the major achievements, which it is highlighting in its poll campaign.

Sources said NHAI has reported construction and widening of 3,338 km during last financial year ending March 31, which is about 10% more than that of 2016-17. Besides NHAI, the state PWDs carry out highway construction and expansion work on behalf of the road transport and highways ministry. Almost all the four-laning of existing highways are executed by the NHAI.



TOI has learnt that the maximum length of highway construction has been reported from highway minister Nitin Gadkari’s home state, Maharashtra (approximately 1,800 km) during 2017-18.

Sources said while faster pace of highway construction is encouraging for a government seeking re-election, a major dip in the pace of award for future development is a concern. In 2018-19, all agencies could bid out works for only 5,543 km, which is less than one-third of what was bid out in 2017-18. Work for expansion and construction of 17,055 km was awarded during 2017-18.

Unlike the developed countries where highway construction usually means laying of new roads, highway development in India is largely focused on widening of the existing roads.