The Bharatmala Pariyojana, approved by the Government of India, continues to make significant progress in enhancing the nation’s road infrastructure. Envisaged to improve connectivity and reduce logistic costs, the project covers a total length of 34,800 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.35 lakh crore.
As of October 31, 2024, projects covering 26,425 km have been awarded, and 18,714 km have been constructed. The scheme includes building Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors, Feeder Routes, National Corridor efficiency improvements, Border and International Connectivity, Coastal and Port Connectivity Roads, and Expressways. Residual projects under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) are also being completed under Bharatmala.
To analyze the socio-economic impact of the program, the government has engaged the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore for a comprehensive study, which is currently underway.
Addressing Challenges in Implementation
Despite its success, the project faces challenges such as delays in pre-construction activities, financial difficulties of contractors, force majeure events, and material shortages. To overcome these, the government has implemented several measures:
- Streamlining and expediting land acquisition processes.
- Revamping the Parivesh Portal to accelerate forest and environmental clearances.
- Enabling online approval of General Arrangement Drawings (GAD) for ROB/RUB from Railways.
- Holding review meetings with stakeholders, including State Governments.
The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari, provided this update in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, emphasizing the government’s commitment to ensuring timely execution and addressing grievances as per contract agreements and guidelines.
The Bharatmala Pariyojana is poised to transform India’s infrastructure landscape, with far-reaching benefits for connectivity, trade, and economic growth.