The Biggest Highway Expansion Plan is on Its Way

BENGALURU: To provide seamless connectivity and better infrastructure for economic growth, the government has decided to construct 44 highways as “Economic Corridors”, covering around 27,000 km in total. This mega project will connect all the major economic hubs and centers of economic activities paving way for a bright future. It is expected to be completed in a span of six years. 

This is being seen as the second largest project in the sector, which saw the development of 50,000 km of National Highways network including the Golden Quadrilateral project. 

There is also a plan to develop feeder roads in these economic corridors. According to sources, 40 interconnecting corridors will be built to connect these 44 economic corridors and Golden Quadrilateral. These corridors will take care of 80 percent of the country's freightage.

The government is all set to change the name of national highways as national corridors, economic corridors and feeder roads.

The main aim of this project is to provide wider roads for cargo vehicles and necessary facilities. This network is also going to be equipped with 100% electronic tolling system.

The plan is to build these roads into four to six lanes and once completed these economic corridors would reduce the travel time and result in diminishing the logistics costs. It has been on the priority list of Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, who has long been trying to make the point for reducing logistics cost in the country from the present 18 per cent.  A hefty amount of Rs 6 lakh crore will be required for this project. 

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