India Sets Ambitious Target of Building 45 km Roads per Day in FY24

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MRTH) has set an ambitious goal of constructing at least 45 km of highways every day during the fiscal year 2023-24. This target is the highest ever set by the Indian government for highway construction in a single year. The objective was set after failing to complete the planned amount of road building in the previous two fiscal years, despite completing a record-breaking 13,298 km (36.4 km per day) during the pandemic-hit year of 2020-2021. The pace then slowed to around 29 km in FY22, and it is anticipated to stay the same in FY23.

The national government has increased MRTH’s financial allocation by 36 percent to INR 2.7 lakh crore to complete the backlog of road projects. Many projects that were close to completion will also soon be operational, particularly in the Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh. The move comes as India faces the possibility of a worldwide economic slowdown. Despite the challenges, the government is determined to speed up highway construction this fiscal year, aiming to build the longest road ever in a single year. The new target will require significant coordination between multiple agencies and contractors.

The construction of highways has been a major focus of the Indian government in recent years, with the aim of improving connectivity and boosting economic growth. While the pace of construction touched a record high of 37 km per day in 2020-21, the target for the following year was not met. With the increased financial allocation and ambitious new target, the government hopes to make up for lost time and accelerate the pace of highway construction in the country.