India’s national highways network has grown to 146,572 km, increasing by over 55,000 km since March 2014, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Minister Nitin Gadkari highlighted that this growth reflects ongoing construction and upgrades driven by traffic demands and connectivity needs, aligning with the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Projects focus on capacity augmentation based on traffic density and strategic requirements. Budget increases have significantly improved highway quality, with operational high-speed corridors rising from 93 km in 2014 to 3,052 km currently. The network of four-lane and wider highways has expanded 2.6 times.
India’s Remarkable Transformation Since 2014
From 18,371 km to 48,568 km, while the share of less than two-lane highways diminished from 30% to 9%. These enhancements have improved connectivity and logistics efficiency nationwide India’s national highway network has undergone a remarkable transformation since 2014, reaching a total length of 1.46 lakh kilometres, according to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari. This expansion reflects not just an increase in road length, but a fundamental shift in how infrastructure is planned, financed, and executed across the country. Roads are no longer viewed merely as transport corridors; they have become catalysts for economic growth.
Regional integration, logistics efficiency, and employment generation. The scale and pace of highway development since 2014 mark one of the most ambitious infrastructure pushes in independent India’s history At the time India embarked on this journey in 2014, the national highway network stood at around 91,000 kilometres. Many stretches were narrow, congested, and ill-equipped to handle growing traffic volumes. Delays in land acquisition, lack of funding, and stalled projects had slowed progress for years. The government responded by adopting a comprehensive reform-driven approach that focused on speed, transparency, and accountability.
India’s Government’s Emphasis On Connectivity
New policies were introduced to revive stalled projects, streamline approvals, and encourage private participation, laying the groundwork for the rapid expansion One of the most significant drivers behind the expansion to 1.46 lakh kilometres has been the government’s emphasis on connectivity. National highways today are designed to link not only major cities but also remote and economically backward regions. Improved road access has reduced travel time, lowered logistics costs, and brought markets closer to producers, especially in rural and semi-urban areas. This improved connectivity has played a crucial role in supporting agriculture, MSMEs, and regional industries.
The Bharatmala Pariyojana has emerged as a cornerstone of India’s highway development strategy. Conceived as a holistic programme, Bharatmala focuses on economic corridors, border and international connectivity roads, coastal roads, and greenfield expressways. By prioritising routes that carry high freight traffic, the programme aims to optimise logistics movement and reduce dependency on inefficient transport routes Financing such large-scale expansion required innovative solutions. Traditional budgetary support alone was insufficient, prompting the government to explore new funding models. Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT), Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InvITs), and public-private.
India’s While Reducing Pressure On Public
Partnerships became key tools in mobilising capital. These mechanisms allowed the government to monetise existing assets and reinvest proceeds into new highway projects. As a result, highway construction gained financial sustainability while reducing pressure on public finances Technological integration has also played a decisive role in accelerating highway development. From drone-based land surveys and digital project monitoring to FASTag-enabled electronic toll collection, technology has improved efficiency and transparency across the sector. Electronic tolling has significantly reduced congestion at toll plazas, saving fuel and travel time while increasing revenue efficiency.
Safety has been another critical focus area as the highway network expanded. Recognising that better roads must also be safer roads, the government introduced road safety audits, improved signage, better lighting, and stricter engineering standards. Black spot identification and rectification programmes were implemented across national highways to reduce accident-prone zones. While challenges remain, these measures aim to ensure that increased road capacity does not come at the cost of human lives The environmental dimension of highway development has gained increasing attention in recent years. Tree transplantation, green highway corridors, use of recycled.
India’s Aligning Infrastructure Growth
Materials, and promotion of waste-based construction technologies have become integral to project execution. India has also experimented with alternative materials such as plastic waste and fly ash in road construction, aligning infrastructure growth with sustainability goals. This approach reflects a growing recognition that development and environmental responsibility must go hand in hand Employment generation is another significant outcome of the highway expansion since 2014. Large-scale road construction has created millions of direct and indirect jobs across engineering, construction, logistics, and allied sectors. Improved highways have also stimulated economic activity along.
Corridors, leading to the growth of warehouses, industrial parks, hospitality services, and roadside businesses. This multiplier effect underscores the role of highways as engines of inclusive economic development From a strategic perspective, the expansion of national highways (India) has strengthened India’s border connectivity and national security. Roads connecting border areas, hilly regions, and remote territories have enhanced mobility for both civilians and defence forces. Improved infrastructure in these regions supports faster deployment, better logistics the achievement of 1.46 lakh kilometres is not an endpoint but a foundation for future growth.
India’s Railways, And Airports
The government has set ambitious targets for expressways, multimodal logistics parks, and seamless integration with ports, railways, and airports. As India aspires to become a $5 trillion economy, a robust and efficient highway network will remain central to achieving that vision. The focus is expected to shift further towards quality, sustainability, and user experience, ensuring that highways continue to support India’s evolving economic and social needs.
India’s expansion of its national highway network to 1.46 lakh kilometres since 2014 represents a transformative phase in the country’s infrastructure journey. Driven by policy reforms, innovative financing, technology adoption, and a focus on connectivity, the highway (India) sector has emerged as a backbone of national development. As highlighted by Nitin Gadkari, the scale of this achievement reflects not just kilometres built, but a new mindset toward infrastructure as a driver of growth, efficiency, and national integration.
Q1. How much has the National Highways network in India grown since 2014?
Since 2014, the network has expanded from approximately 91,287 km to 1,46,572 km, reflecting a growth of over 60%.
Q2. Who is responsible for this highway expansion?
The expansion has been overseen by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) under Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, supported by agencies like the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
Q3. What role does Bharatmala Pariyojana play in this growth?
Bharatmala is a central program focused on building economic corridors, coastal roads, and regional connectivity, contributing significantly to the highway expansion.
Q4. Are expressways included in national highways’ growth figures?
Expressways, although technically access-controlled corridors, are part of the national transport infrastructure growth and are reported separately in key government data.
Q5. How does this expansion benefit citizens and the economy?
Broad highway networks shorten travel time, support logistics, boost trade, create jobs, and improve access to essential services across regions.
