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Union Tourism and Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat highlighted that the past decade’s infrastructure expansion has greatly supported spiritual tourism in India. Four-lane expressways have grown from just over 18,000 km to nearly 48,200 km, while high-speed corridors have increased 8.5 times. Improved roads and travel networks have enhanced access to major pilgrimage routes such as Char Dham and Panchkosi Yatra, and sites like Bet Dwarka. The Northeast has also seen better connectivity, making spiritual and cultural destinations more visible. These developments are helping more people undertake pilgrimages while supporting regional tourism growth.
Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said that infrastructure growth over the past decade has given a significant boost to spiritual tourism in India. Speaking at a press briefing, he shared detailed data on road expansion and other travel-related infrastructure improvements. He noted that before 2014, the total length of four-lane expressways in the country was just over 18,000 km. Today, this has grown 2.5 times to nearly 48,200 km, reflecting sustained development in road networks. Advertisement
High-speed corridors have also seen substantial expansion, increasing about 8.5 times in the same period. Shekhawat linked this directly to rising spiritual tourism, explaining that better roads and connectivity have made pilgrim journeys easier and safer. The improvements support travel to major religious routes including the Char Dham Yatra and Panchkosi Yatra, enabling more people to undertake these spiritual journeys.
The minister pointed out specific infrastructure projects, such as the Sudarshan Setu bridge in Bet Dwarka, Gujarat, which has improved access to this significant pilgrimage site. He also highlighted that the Northeast region has benefited from road and travel infrastructure expansion, making its cultural and spiritual destinations more accessible and better connected to the rest of the country.
Shekhawat emphasised that improved connectivity not only helps pilgrims but also strengthens local economies by increasing visitor numbers. Government efforts to widen highways, link towns and villages, and upgrade travel networks have brought regional destinations into the mainstream tourism map. These initiatives align with broader national goals to develop tourism infrastructure, reduce travel time, and enhance safety and convenience for travellers.
Recent efforts also include integrating smaller towns and culturally important sites with major transport corridors, ensuring that both domestic and international visitors can access a wide range of spiritual and cultural experiences. Enhanced road infrastructure, combined with supportive government planning, continues to make India’s religious destinations more visible and reachable, contributing to sustainable tourism growth.
Source PTI
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