Aizawl — In the scenic hills of Mizoram, where winding roads meet even more winding political will, Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways and Corporate Affairs, Harsh Malhotra, took the fast lane to emphasize a crucial point: when roads go up, so does prosperity.
Speaking at the 233rd Mid-Term Council Meeting of the Indian Roads Congress (IRC) held at Mizoram University, Malhotra made it clear — infrastructure isn’t just about bitumen and bulldozers; it’s about bridging dreams, connecting communities, and laying down the tarmac to Viksit Bharat by 2047.
“Good roads don’t just lead to cities — they lead to success,” quipped the Minister, while highlighting that India’s National Highway network has grown by over 60% in the last 11 years, from 91,000 km in 2014 to a jaw-dropping 1.47 lakh km today. “It’s not just road expansion. It’s economic expansion.”
With Mizoram Chief Minister Lalduhoma, Minister Vanlalhlana, and MP Richard Vanlalhmangaiha nodding in support, Malhotra praised the Indian Roads Congress as the unsung hero of highway excellence. “If roads are the arteries of the nation, IRC is the heart that pumps quality and safety into every project,” he said.
But this wasn’t just a nostalgia trip down the NH memory lane. The Minister stressed the need to adopt global best practices, reduce costs without compromising quality (something every wedding planner and road contractor dreams of), and go green while laying blacktop.
“Eco-friendly methods and cutting-edge tech aren’t luxuries — they’re necessities,” he declared, firmly placing the future of Indian infrastructure on sustainable wheels.
Zooming in on the North East, Malhotra noted how the region has undergone a “remarkable transformation,” with nearly 10,000 km of National Highways built at over ₹1.07 lakh crore, linking even the remotest parts like never before. “The Prime Minister’s commitment to the region isn’t lip service — it’s lane service.”
And if you thought roads were just concrete, think again. As the Minister eloquently put it, “Infrastructure is the foundation of economic growth, the pathway to prosperity, and the symbol of a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive India.”
In short, Harsh Malhotra came, saw, and asphalt-ed the point home — in Viksit Bharat, every milestone will be measured in meters and meaning.
