MoRTH Aims to Set National Record with 13,813 km of Highways in FY24

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is targeting a national record by constructing 13,813 km of highways in the current financial year, stated its Secretary Anurag Jain. He highlighted the ministry's goal to eliminate less than two-lane national highways by 2027-28.

In March 2012, the total length of less than two-lane National Highways (NH) stood at 25,517 km, constituting 30.1% of the total length. Presently, this figure has reduced to 14,350 km, representing 9.8% of the total length.

Over recent years, MoRTH has shown consistent progress in highway construction, with 10,237 km constructed in 2019-20, 13,327 km in 2020-21, 10,457 km in 2021-22, and 10,331 km in 2022-23.

In the ongoing fiscal year, MoRTH has already constructed 6,216 km of NH up to December, compared to 5,774 km in the corresponding period last year.

Furthermore, MoRTH's aim is to generate Rs 40,000 crore through asset monetization this fiscal year. Jain also emphasized the increasing private investment expected for road projects in the future. He expressed confidence that India's road infrastructure will match that of developed countries within the next 10-12 years.