India constructed 2,108 km of highways in the first quarter of this financial year which was 8.9% more than what was achieved during the same period of the last financial year when elections slowed activity, according to the government data.
In April-June, awards were given for construction of 793 km of new highways while for the year ago period, this figure was a mere 95 km.
The award figure in the first quarter of the last financial year was unusually low because of the general elections.
The code of conduct and diversion of officials for election-related work delayed clearances.
The award figures for the first quarter of this year are higher than even April-June of 2023 despite a pause on Baharatmala Pariyojana. To speed up the pace of awards the NHAI has drawn a tentative list of projects that it could bid out in this financial year.
The list has 124 stretches totalling a length of 6376 km, The total project cost of stretches on the list comes to around Rs 3,45 lakh crore. A steady stream of awards is necessary to create a pipeline of highway projects that can be taken over the next few years. It also keeps the pace of construction up.
A little more than half of the highways or 1092 km in April-June were constructed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).The award figures for the highway builder stood at 167.5 km. The remaining length of highways has been executed by National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) and the road wing of the ministry.
NHIDCL builds, maintains and operates national highways and strategic roads including interconnecting roads in parts of the country which share international boundaries with neighbouring countries. Roads wing of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) also undertakes some sections of national highways and runs special programmes for development of road connectivity in Naxalite affected areas and for providing last mile connectivity.
Out of the total capital expenditure outlay of Rs 2.72 lakh crore for current fiscal, the MoRTH has spent Rs 59,368 crore in the months of April and May. When compared to last year, the pace of expenditure is higher this year as in April-June 2024 the capital expenditure by the ministry was Rs 60,170 crore.