"Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I Expected to Be Completed by 2027-28: MoRTH"

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has announced that the Modi government's flagship Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I, which has exceeded its initial expenditure limits, is now expected to be completed by 2027-28. This update comes from the ministry's annual report for 2023-24, which also notes that a revised financial proposal for the project is currently under review.

Phase-I of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, covering a total length of 34,800 km across 31 states and Union Territories and impacting more than 550 districts, has seen significant progress. To date, 26,425 km of the project has been awarded, with 17,411 km already constructed.

Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in June 2017, the Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to develop around 26,000 km of economic corridors, which, alongside the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and North-South and East-West (NS-EW) Corridors, are intended to handle the majority of road freight traffic. The plan also includes improving approximately 8,000 km of interstate corridors and 7,500 km of feeder routes to enhance the effectiveness of these economic corridors.

The project, originally estimated to cost Rs 6,92,324 crore, will be funded through a mix of sources including the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund cess, additional budgetary support, toll-operate-transfer monetisation of national highways, Internal and Extra Budgetary Resources (IEBR), and private sector investment. However, due to rising costs related to the project and land acquisition, a revised financial proposal is being prepared for approval.

The MoRTH's Vision 2047 for the National Highways sector, outlined in the report, sets a goal of providing high-speed corridors within 100-150 km of all citizens and aims to enhance passenger convenience with world-class amenities.

ET