Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced an ambitious plan to upgrade 25,000 kilometers of two-lane highways to four-lane highways at an estimated cost of ₹10 lakh crore. This initiative aims to significantly reduce road accidents and enhance connectivity across the country.
During a session in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari revealed that detailed project reports (DPRs) for these upgrades are underway, with completion targeted within two years. The minister emphasized the government’s commitment to prioritizing infrastructure development, particularly in regions like Jammu and Kashmir, northeastern states, and hilly areas such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand.
In addition to the four-lane expansion, 16,000 kilometers of national highways will be upgraded to six lanes at a cost of ₹6 lakh crore. Gadkari highlighted the importance of these projects in reducing India’s annual road accident rate, which currently results in 1,88,000 fatalities and accounts for 3% of the nation’s GDP loss.
Key projects include the construction of the Zojila tunnel, Asia’s longest tunnel in a sub-zero temperature zone, and the Jammu-Srinagar highway, which will feature 36 tunnels to cut travel time significantly. These developments underscore the government’s vision to transform India’s road infrastructure and improve safety and efficiency for travelers.
