Transforming India: Highways to Prosperity

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari emphasized infrastructure development as vital for bolstering India's economic might. Speaking on Thursday, he disclosed the ministry's decision to expand 25,000-30,000 km of two-lane highways into four lanes, with a monumental investment of Rs 10 lakh crore.

Gadkari highlighted the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' strategic shift towards utilizing the Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) model, a mutual fund-like instrument, for financing highway projects. This initiative aims to draw funds from Indian investors to fortify national highways.

The minister also discussed the government's plans to revise the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model, with long-term toll collection agreements, while stressing the importance of quality and cost-control in highway construction projects.

(With inputs from agencies.)