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The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is managing a vast portfolio of national highway construction across India, with 1,240 projects spanning over 29,000 km currently under development. Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari informed the Rajya Sabha that these works, with a total cost of INR 7.80 lakh crore, are being executed in stages and are expected to conclude by the financial year 2028-29. Of the ongoing works, more than 15,600 km have already been completed. The government is also expanding its focus on electric vehicle infrastructure and road maintenance.
A total of 1,240 national highway projects covering 29,406 km are presently under construction across the country, Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari stated in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha. These projects, which amount to a cumulative expenditure of INR 7.80 lakh crore, are being carried out in phases and are targeted for completion by the financial year 2028-29. Out of the total length, 15,674 km has already been completed. Advertisement
Gadkari noted that the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is chiefly responsible for developing and maintaining national highways and expressways. In response to a separate query, he mentioned that for the current financial year 2025-26, the ministry has outlined an annual development plan covering approximately 19,555 km of national highways, which includes around 548 km in West Bengal.
The minister also revealed that 4,557 electric vehicle public charging stations have been set up along state and national highways and expressways across the country. He added that the government has placed significant emphasis on maintaining the existing national highway network and has implemented a mechanism to ensure timely repairs and maintenance, including the patching of potholes, through designated and accountable maintenance agencies.
Gadkari explained that national highway development is primarily executed via three models-Build-Operate and Transfer (BOT), Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), and Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC). For BOT projects, the concession period including maintenance ranges from 15 to 20 years, while for HAM projects it typically lasts 15 years. In contrast, EPC projects have a Defect Liability Period (DLP) of 5 years for bituminous works and 10 years for concrete works, with the concessionaire being responsible for upkeep during the respective periods.
With more than 15,000 km of highways already completed and thousands of kilometres planned in the ongoing financial year, the focus remains on efficiency and sustainability. Additionally, the inclusion of electric vehicle charging infrastructure underlines a shift towards greener mobility, while the structured project execution through BOT, HAM, and EPC models ensures comprehensive coverage of both development and upkeep.
Source - PTI
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