India’s highways have not just grown longer over the past twelve years; they have become faster, smarter and far more ambitious. From expressways cutting travel time to National Highways connecting economic corridors, ports, borders and remote regions, the country’s road infrastructure has undergone a transformation that is quite literally moving India forward — and at a much better speed than most Monday morning traffic.
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the guidance of Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Shri Nitin Gadkari, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has driven a major infrastructure push aimed at strengthening connectivity, improving logistics efficiency, reducing travel time and enhancing ease of travel for millions of citizens.
Recognising world-class infrastructure as a key pillar of national development, the Government has focused on expanding the National Highway network, accelerating construction, improving road safety and building iconic expressways that are reshaping India’s transport landscape.
Bharatmala Pariyojana: Connecting India With Purpose
One of the biggest milestones in this transformation has been Bharatmala Pariyojana, the flagship highway development programme approved in October 2017. Designed to optimise freight and passenger movement across the country, the programme envisages development of 34,800 kilometres of National Highway corridors with an estimated outlay of ₹5.35 lakh crore.
Bharatmala covers Economic Corridors, Inter-Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement projects, Border Roads, Coastal Roads, Port Connectivity Roads and Expressways. As of March 2026, projects covering 26,425 kilometres had been awarded, while 22,590 kilometres had already been constructed.
The programme has played a major role in improving connectivity to remote and strategically important regions, reducing logistics costs and supporting economic development. In simple terms, it is helping goods, people and opportunities reach places where earlier even Google Maps might have taken a deep breath before suggesting a route.
National Highway Network Expands By Nearly 61 Per Cent
India’s National Highway network has expanded from approximately 91,287 kilometres in 2014 to over 1,46,572 kilometres in FY 2025-26, marking an increase of nearly 61 per cent.
This growth has strengthened connectivity across states and regions, improved access to markets, enabled faster movement of goods and services and supported the country’s economic backbone. The expanded network is also helping bridge regional disparities by linking remote and underserved areas with growth centres and economic hubs.
Construction Pace Gains Record Momentum
The pace of National Highway construction has also seen a major jump. From about 11.6 kilometres per day in 2013-14, the construction speed has increased to nearly 34 kilometres per day in 2025.
This acceleration reflects improved project execution, policy support, streamlined approvals, stronger institutional capacity and greater use of technology. The result is faster delivery of critical road projects and improved connectivity across the country.
A study conducted by the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore has also highlighted that development of National Highways has helped reduce average logistics costs by improving accessibility to factories and lowering transportation costs between factories, suppliers and customers.
For businesses, that means faster supply chains. For travellers, it means fewer hours on the road. For roadside tea stalls, well, it may mean customers arrive faster — but hopefully still stop for chai.
Delhi–Mumbai Expressway: India’s Grand Road Ambition
The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway stands among India’s most ambitious highway projects. With a planned length of approximately 1,386 kilometres and an estimated project cost of around ₹1 lakh crore, it is set to become the country’s longest access-controlled expressway upon completion.
The expressway connects Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Maharashtra, improving connectivity between some of India’s most important economic centres.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi inaugurated the first completed section of the expressway on 12 February 2023 — the 246-km Delhi–Dausa–Lalsot stretch in Rajasthan, developed at a cost of over ₹12,000 crore. This was followed by the inauguration of the 87-km Vadodara–Bharuch stretch in Gujarat on 22 February 2024.
On 5 June 2026, the Prime Minister inaugurated two additional Gujarat sections: the 36-km Kim–Ena section and the 27.5-km Gandeva–Ena section. Once completed, the expressway is expected to reduce travel time, improve logistics efficiency and create new opportunities for industrial growth, investment and employment along its corridor.
Delhi–Meerut Expressway: NCR Gets Moving
The Delhi–Meerut Expressway has transformed travel between Delhi and Meerut, bringing faster and more efficient connectivity to the National Capital Region. Developed at a cost of approximately ₹8,346 crore and spanning about 82 kilometres, the expressway has significantly reduced travel time for daily commuters and businesses.
Completed in phases between 2018 and 2021, the project has become one of India’s key examples of successful urban-regional connectivity. It has helped reduce congestion, support economic activity and improve mobility across western Uttar Pradesh and the NCR.
In a region where traffic jams often feel like family members — always present and hard to avoid — the expressway has brought some much-needed relief.
Dwarka Expressway: A New Urban Mobility Milestone
The Dwarka Expressway marks a major step in improving urban transport infrastructure in the National Capital Region. Stretching nearly 29 kilometres and developed at a cost of around ₹9,000 crore, the project has improved connectivity between Delhi and Gurugram.
The Haryana section of the expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in March 2024, while the Delhi section was inaugurated in August 2025, completing a critical urban mobility corridor.
With advanced engineering solutions, multi-level interchanges and modern traffic management systems, the expressway is expected to ease congestion, improve travel efficiency and support the growing mobility requirements of the region.
Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway: Speeding Up Southern Growth
The Bengaluru–Mysuru Expressway has emerged as a landmark infrastructure project in southern India. Developed at a cost of approximately ₹8,480 crore and spanning 118 kilometres, the expressway was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 12 March 2023.
The project has reduced travel time between Bengaluru and Mysuru from nearly three hours to about 75 minutes. It has improved mobility, strengthened road safety, enhanced travel comfort and boosted tourism and commercial linkages between the two cities.
For travellers, it means less time counting milestones and more time enjoying Mysuru pak, coffee and perhaps the joy of actually reaching on time.
Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor: Fast, Green and Future-Ready
The Delhi–Dehradun Economic Corridor is another major example of India’s focus on high-speed and environmentally responsible highway development. Developed at a cost of ₹12,000 crore, the 213-km six-lane access-controlled corridor was inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi on 14 April 2026.
The corridor has reduced travel time between Delhi and Dehradun from over six hours to around 2.5 hours, while cutting travel distance from 235 kilometres to 213 kilometres. This makes the journey faster, more fuel-efficient and smoother for commuters, tourists and businesses.
A defining feature of the project is its emphasis on ecological preservation. A 20-km stretch between Ganeshpur and Dehradun passes through sensitive zones between Rajaji National Park and the Shivalik Reserve Forest. To address this, the project incorporates a 12-km-long elevated wildlife corridor, among the longest in Asia, along with a 370-metre tunnel near the Daat-Kali temple.
By combining engineering with environmental sensitivity, the corridor has set a benchmark for sustainable National Highway development.
Driving The Vision Of Viksit Bharat
The transformation of India’s highway sector over the past twelve years reflects the spirit of “Twelve Years of Trust, Development and Public Welfare.” Through sustained investment, policy reforms and faster project execution, the Government has strengthened connectivity, expanded economic opportunities and improved the quality of life for millions of citizens.
From Bharatmala Pariyojana and the expansion of the National Highway network to record construction speed and iconic expressways, the achievements of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways underline India’s infrastructure-led growth strategy.
As the country moves towards the vision of Viksit Bharat, a modern, efficient and resilient highway network will continue to serve as a powerful engine of growth, prosperity and inclusive development.
After all, a developed India needs roads that do more than connect cities. They must connect people, markets, dreams and destinations — preferably with fewer potholes and better snacks along the way.
