"India's Highway Revolution: 25,000 KM to Get Four Lanes"

The government has unveiled an ambitious plan to upgrade 25,000 km of two-lane highways into four-lane highways at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh crore.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, speaking in the Lok Sabha during Question Hour, emphasized that the initiative aims to enhance road safety and reduce accidents. Additionally, 16,000 km of national highways will be expanded to six lanes, with an investment of Rs six lakh crore.

The government is prioritizing highway development in Jammu and Kashmir, the northeastern states, and hilly regions such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In Jammu and Kashmir alone, road construction projects worth Rs two lakh crore are in progress, including the construction of 105 tunnels to enhance connectivity.

A major infrastructure milestone is the Zojila tunnel, set to be the longest tunnel in Asia in a sub-zero temperature zone. Initially estimated to cost over Rs 12,000 crore, the project is now being executed at approximately Rs 5,500 crore. This tunnel will provide all-weather connectivity between the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh, significantly improving transportation and offering strategic advantages.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.