18,714 km of highways constructed under Bharatmala Pariyojana in the last 7 years: Nitin Gadkari
Highway projects covering a total length of 26,425 km have been awarded, and 18,714 km have been constructed as of October 31, 2024, under the Bharatmala Pariyojana scheme, the Parliament was informed on Wednesday.
Approved by the government of India in 2017, the Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to cover 34,800 km to improve connectivity and reduce logistics costs across the country.
Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has invested Rs 4.72 lakh crore under Bharatmala Pariyojana up to October 30 this year.
He further stated that under the Port and Coastal Connectivity Roads category, 18 projects with a total length of 424 km have been awarded, and 189 km have been constructed so far.
These projects aim to provide connectivity to major and minor ports in various coastal states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal.
In response to another question, Nitin Gadkari mentioned that 190 projects, with a total length of 3,856 km and a cost of Rs 81,540 crore, are currently under construction on National Highways (NHs) in the Northeastern region. These works are scheduled to be completed by September 2028.
The Union Minister stated that a total allocation of Rs 19,338 crore has been made for NH works in the northeastern region during the financial year 2024-25.
He also highlighted that steps have been taken to expedite the completion of these projects, including streamlining land acquisition and revamping the dispute resolution mechanism. Additionally, projects are being awarded after ensuring adequate preparation in terms of land acquisition and clearances to avoid delays.
Nitin Gadkari mentioned that close coordination is being maintained with concerned Ministries and state governments, and regular reviews are conducted at various levels to speed up the work. The approval process for changes in project scope and time extensions is also being expedited.
