India achieves record-breaking milestone of constructing Highways in FY 2020-21

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), Govt of India has achieved tremendous progress in the building of National Highways across the country in the last few years. According to data shared by the Ministery, the Indian government has achieved the record-breaking milestone of constructing 37 kilometres of highways per day in year 2020-21, which is unprecedented.

To celebrate these achievements, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport & Highways and MSME, has felicitated the officials and presented the letters of appreciation on April 1, 2021. Gadkari said that this would not have been possible without the dedication and teamwork of the officials and other stakeholders. He said that these achievements are unprecedented and have no parallel in any other country in the world.

According to the ministry, the total length of National Highways has gone up by 50 per cent from 91,287 km (as of April 2014) to 1,37,625 km (as of March 20, 2021) over the last 7 years. Total budgetary outlay increased by 5.5 times from Rs 33,414 Cr in Financial Year 2015 to Rs 1,83,101 Cr in Financial Year 2022.

The ministry said that sanctioned amount has increased by 126 per cent in the Financial Year 2021 over Financial Year 2020 despite the Covid-19 related impact. Sanctioned length in kilometers has also increased by 9 per cent in Financial Year 2021 over Financial Year 2020.

The average annual project award (annual average award length) during Financial Year 2015 to Financial Year 2021 has increased by 85 per cent compared to FY2010 to FY2014. The average annual construction (average annual construction length) during FY2015 to FY2021 has increased by 83 per cent compared to FY2010 to FY2014.

The cumulative cost of ongoing project works has increased by 54% at the end of Financial Year 2021 compared to Financial Year 2020 (as of March 31, 2021).