India's Highway Expansion: A Roadmap to 2029

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has revealed a massive infrastructure push with 1,240 national highway projects underway across India. These projects cover 29,406 km, with a price tag of Rs 7.80 lakh crore, and 15,674 km already completed. The ambitious plan aims for phased completion by 2028-29.

In a detailed response to the Rajya Sabha, the minister emphasized the ministry's focus on developing and maintaining the national highway network. For the financial year 2025-26, an annual plan for developing 19,555 km of highways, including 548 km in West Bengal, is prepared.

Additionally, the government has installed 4,557 electric vehicle Public Charging Stations nationwide. Highway development mainly follows Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT), Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) modes, with maintenance responsibilities defined for each.

(With inputs from agencies.)