NEW DELHI: In a big boost to highway development, the cabinet on Friday approved eight major national high-speed road corridor projects of 936 km entailing Rs 50,655 crore investment. Goverment said the projects, spread across nine states, will improve logistics efficiency, reduce congestion, enhance connectivity and generate around 4.4 crore mandays of direct and indirect employment.
Sources said government’s focus will next be on development of more expressways and access-controlled highways. In a post on X, PM Modi said the cabinet nod “will have a multiplier effect on our economic growth and boost employment opportunities. It also underlines our commitment to a futuristic and connected India.”
Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said the projects will reduce distances and cut travel time of goods vehicles, which is crucial to bring down logistics cost.
I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the 88-km six-lane Agra-Gwalior corridor project will be developed at a cost of Rs 4,613 crore and it will supplement existing four-lane NH to increase traffic capacity. It will reduce the distance between Agra and Gwalior by 7% and travel time by 50%.
Similarly, the four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram access-controlled highway will be of 231 km and will be developed at a cost of Rs 10,247 crore. It will provide efficient connectivity between West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra. It will reduce travel time from existing 9-10 hours to 3-5 hours for freight vehicles. The six-lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad project covering 214 km will see an investment of Rs 10,534 crore. This will reduce the distance by 20% and travel time by 60%. The four-lane Ayodhya Ring Road (68 km) will be developed at a cost of Rs 3,935 crore and will reduce congestion on NH passing through the city.
The four-lane access-controlled Pathalgaon-Gumla section of Raipur-Ranchi corridor (137 km) will be developed at a cost of Rs 4,473 crore.
Similarly, the six-lane Kanpur Ring Road project will entail an investment of Rs 3,298 crore. NHAI will also build a four-lane Guwahati Ring Road (121 km) with an investment of Rs 5,729 crore. The other project is development of eight-lane elevated Nashik Phata-Khed corridor near Pune. It will be built at a cost of Rs 7,827 crore.
Sources said government’s focus will next be on development of more expressways and access-controlled highways. In a post on X, PM Modi said the cabinet nod “will have a multiplier effect on our economic growth and boost employment opportunities. It also underlines our commitment to a futuristic and connected India.”
Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari said the projects will reduce distances and cut travel time of goods vehicles, which is crucial to bring down logistics cost.
I&B minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said the 88-km six-lane Agra-Gwalior corridor project will be developed at a cost of Rs 4,613 crore and it will supplement existing four-lane NH to increase traffic capacity. It will reduce the distance between Agra and Gwalior by 7% and travel time by 50%.
Similarly, the four-lane Kharagpur-Moregram access-controlled highway will be of 231 km and will be developed at a cost of Rs 10,247 crore. It will provide efficient connectivity between West Bengal, Odisha and Andhra. It will reduce travel time from existing 9-10 hours to 3-5 hours for freight vehicles. The six-lane Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad project covering 214 km will see an investment of Rs 10,534 crore. This will reduce the distance by 20% and travel time by 60%. The four-lane Ayodhya Ring Road (68 km) will be developed at a cost of Rs 3,935 crore and will reduce congestion on NH passing through the city.
The four-lane access-controlled Pathalgaon-Gumla section of Raipur-Ranchi corridor (137 km) will be developed at a cost of Rs 4,473 crore.
Similarly, the six-lane Kanpur Ring Road project will entail an investment of Rs 3,298 crore. NHAI will also build a four-lane Guwahati Ring Road (121 km) with an investment of Rs 5,729 crore. The other project is development of eight-lane elevated Nashik Phata-Khed corridor near Pune. It will be built at a cost of Rs 7,827 crore.