JULY 18: Addressing the Road and Highways Summit in Delhi on July 18, 2025, Minister of State for Corporate Affairs and Road, Transport & Highways, Shri Harsh Malhotra emphasized the government’s steadfast commitment to building world-class road and transport infrastructure as part of the Viksit Bharat@2047 vision. He credited the transformational changes to the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and guidance from Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari.
Shri Malhotra highlighted that India’s national highways network has expanded significantly—from 91,000 km in 2014 to over 1.46 lakh km today—making it the second-largest road network globally. He also shared that the government’s investment in road infrastructure has multiplied 6.4 times since 2013–14, and budget allocations have grown by 57% between 2014 and 2023–24.
The Minister noted that these modern highways are more than just roads—they represent economic corridors and development lifelines. They have generated substantial employment, including 45 crore man-days of direct employment, 57 crore in indirect, and 532 crore man-days in induced employment.
Key regional developments include the construction of over 10,000 km of highways in the North Eastern Region over the past decade, a clear indication of the government’s dedication to balanced regional growth.
Highlighting the Delhi Decongestion Plan, Shri Malhotra outlined several major projects such as the extension of the Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and new tunnels aimed at easing traffic and reducing pollution in the capital.
Looking ahead, the Ministry plans to develop over 700 Wayside Amenities (WSAs) by 2028–29 to enhance the travel experience, with clean facilities, EV charging, fuel stations, and food options.
He also pointed to major achievements in road safety, including rectification of 14,000 accident-prone blackspots, and the implementation of schemes like the Good Samaritan and Cashless Golden Hour.
On sustainability, Shri Malhotra detailed the use of 80 lakh tonnes of plastic waste and fly ash in highway construction, alongside planting nearly 4.78 crore trees under initiatives like the Green Highways Policy and ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’.
The Minister concluded by saying that road development is key to economic growth, job creation, and national prosperity.
