Govt to construct over 12,000 km of highways in FY24

The overall highway construction in the country would be around 12,00013,000 kilometres by the end of this financial year (FY24), a senior official at the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MORTH) said here on Friday.

Anurag Jain, secretary MORTH said while the overall construction is lower than what was targeted at the beginning of the financial year, the capacity augmentation and widening of existing highways to four lanes would touch a record high. The ministry had set a target of 13,800 km of road construction for 2023-24.

Jain said the monthly road construction is showing positive signs despite extended monsoons. He said a stricter review process of the projects, and follow-up meetings with the state governments might have slowed down the construction but has improved the quality of the roads across the country. “Since December 2023, the pick-up in construction happened which is now evident in January. Like every year, these last three months will witness bulk construction. We are expecting close to 4,500-5,000 km of construction in these two months (Februarymarch, 2024),” Jain said.

He said in an optimistic scenario, it can touch 13,300 kms but the model code of conduct before the general elections might also impact the overall construction activity.

“This is the year we will have the highest ever four-lane and high-speed access control road construction. So even if the total construction is not the highest ever, the quality of the roads if you measure in terms of widening and speed, this is the highest ever,” Jain said.