Construction of national highways slows; 8,600km built against 10,000km target

E-PaperSubscribeSubscribeEnjoy unlimited accessSubscribe Now! Get features like The Union ministry of road transport and highways has constructed 8,600km of national highways till the third week of March against a target of 10,000km for the current financial year 2025–26, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday. An aerial view of Madurai National Highway in Tiruchirappalli. (ANI)The figures indicate a slowdown in highway construction, with the average pace dropping to 23.74km per day, compared to 29.21km per day in 2024-25 and 33.83km per day in 2023-24. The highest expansion was recorded in 2020-21, when 13,327km of national highways were built, translating to 33.83km per day. The data was shared by Union road transport and highways minister Nitin Gadkari while replying to a question by YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Golla Babu Rao. On the same day, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which functions under the ministry, said it had surpassed its construction target for the financial year. In a statement, NHAI said it had built 5,313km of national highways, about 15% higher than the target of 4,640km. The authority also said its capital expenditure stood at ₹2,44,362 crore, around 2.5% higher than the government’s budgetary support of ₹2,38,384 crore for the year, adding that the additional spending was met through its own resources. NHAI is the primary agency responsible for the development, maintenance and management of national highways across the country. In addition to NHAI, the ministry-owned National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited undertakes construction in border areas, hilly regions and the North-East, while some highway stretches are also built by central agencies such as the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and by state public works departments.