Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has announced an ambitious plan to ramp up highway construction in India to 100 kilometres per day. He stated that in the next 18 months, India’s road infrastructure will be better than that of the United States.

At a recent event, Gadkari confirmed that 25,000 km of two-lane and four-lane highways will be built across the country in the coming years. “Infrastructure development is very important for India… I am working to accelerate the pace of highway construction in the country to 100 km per day,” he said. He also emphasised that there is no shortage of funds for these massive infrastructure projects.

Mumbai-Goa Highway Completion by June 2025

After years of delays, the long-awaited Mumbai-Goa highway is now expected to be fully completed by June 2025. “There were numerous difficulties with the Mumbai-Goa highway. But do not worry, we will complete the road 100 per cent by this June,” Gadkari assured.

The highway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between Mumbai and Goa, and it will also drive economic growth in the Konkan region. The project has faced repeated delays due to complex land acquisition issues, legal disputes, and compensation challenges.

“There were fights among brothers, court cases and hurdles in providing compensation for land. But these matters have now been resolved and the project has gained momentum,” Gadkari explained. He also acknowledged that both the Mumbai-Goa and Delhi-Jaipur highways had become problem zones for the ministry but efforts are now being made to improve them.

Highway Construction Progress and Records

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has made significant progress in the past few years. The pace of construction hit a record of 37 km per day in 2020-21. Here’s a quick look at yearly achievements:

• 2019-20: 10,237 km
• 2020-21: 13,435 km
• 2021-22: 10,457 km
• 2022-23: 10,331 km
• 2023-24: 12,349 km

Currently, 57 express highways are under construction across the country, with a massive investment of ₹10 lakh crore, showcasing the scale and ambition of the government’s infrastructure plans.

Seamless Travel Vision: Delhi-Mumbai to Chennai

Gadkari outlined the development of a direct highway route connecting Delhi to Chennai via Surat, Nasik, Ahmadnagar and Solapur. This will eliminate the need to pass through Mumbai or Pune, ensuring seamless connectivity from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.

Satellite-Based Tolling System to Replace FASTag

A major transformation in toll collection is also on the horizon. Gadkari revealed that physical toll booths will soon be eliminated across India. The government is preparing to roll out a new toll policy within the next 15 days.

“The central government will soon introduce a new toll policy. I will not speak much about it now, but within the next 15 days, a new policy will be announced. Once implemented, there will be no reason for anyone to complain about tolls,” he said.

This new system will use satellite tracking and automatic number plate recognition to deduct toll charges directly from bank accounts, ending the need for manual toll booths or even FASTag.

Final Thoughts

India is on the brink of a transformative leap in road infrastructure. With faster highway construction, completion of long-pending projects like the Mumbai-Goa highway, and cutting-edge tolling systems, the vision of smooth, efficient travel across the country is fast becoming a reality.