The roads ministry is ready
with a proposal for upgrading 22,000 km of national highways at an estimated
cost of Rs 4 lakh crore over the next five years and will soon seek cabinet
approval to lower the current traffic threshold for upgrading two-lane national
highways to four-lane highways. The clearance is expected to come later this
month.
The 22,000 km to be taken up for upgradation account for over a fifth of the current NH network of 100,000 km. According to MoRTH data, 30 per cent of the existing national highways have less than two lanes, 48 per cent have two lanes and 22 per cent have four lane and more.
The 22,000 km planned for upgrade are in addition to the 50,000 km that the roads ministry will add to the national highways network. This includes projects under the Bharat Mala programme, roads being considered for connecting district headquarters, backward areas and religious/ tourist centres, and state highways identified for addition to the NH network by the end of the fiscal year.
The 22,000 km to be taken up for upgradation account for over a fifth of the current NH network of 100,000 km. According to MoRTH data, 30 per cent of the existing national highways have less than two lanes, 48 per cent have two lanes and 22 per cent have four lane and more.
The 22,000 km planned for upgrade are in addition to the 50,000 km that the roads ministry will add to the national highways network. This includes projects under the Bharat Mala programme, roads being considered for connecting district headquarters, backward areas and religious/ tourist centres, and state highways identified for addition to the NH network by the end of the fiscal year.
