Like fresh veins etched across a vast landscape, India’s highways are quietly stitching regions, markets and people closer together.
Miles Built, Momentum Gained
India’s flagship highway expansion programme, the Bharatmala Pariyojana, has made substantial headway since its approval in 2017, signalling a decisive push toward faster and more efficient road connectivity.
As of December 2025, over 21,700 kilometres of highways have been constructed nationwide, reflecting strong physical progress under Phase-I of the initiative. The programme carries an overall target of 34,800 kilometres, aimed at cutting logistics costs and strengthening economic integration across the country.
According to information provided to the Lok Sabha by th- Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, projects covering 26,425 kilometres have been awarded so far, with 21,783 kilometres already completed. “As of December 2025, projects covering length of 26,425 km have been awarded and 21,783 km have been constructed,” Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said in a written reply. The ministry also reported cumulative expenditure of Rs 4.93 lakh crore till February last year on the ambitious programme.
Between 2019 and 2025, as many as 236 Bharatmala projects spanning 13,178 kilometres were inaugurated across various states, underlining the pace at which new road assets have been added to the national network.
Corridors, Cities and the Road Ahead
The Bharatmala Pariyojana places strong emphasis on freight efficiency through the development of nearly 26,000 kilometres of Economic Corridors. Together with the Golden Quadrilateral and the North-South and East-West corridors, these routes are expected to handle the bulk of road-based freight traffic in the coming years. To enhance their effectiveness, around 8,000 kilometres of inter-corridors and 7,500 kilometres of feeder routes have also been identified.
Urban decongestion is another cornerstone of the programme. Plans include ring roads, bypasses and elevated corridors to ease traffic flow through cities. In this context, 28 cities have been selected for ring roads, while 125 choke points and 66 congestion points have been earmarked for improvement.
In a separate reply, the minister clarified that new project sanctions under Bharatmala have been discontinued, with fresh approvals now being considered at the corridor level under National Highway (original), subject to clearance by the competent authority. The government has set a target to complete all ongoing projects by the 2027–28 financial year, with a continued focus on connecting tribal, aspirational and Left Wing Extremism-affected districts and sharply reducing travel time between major economic hubs.
As asphalt meets ambition, these roads promise not just journeys, but a smoother passage toward India’s economic horizon.
Summary
India’s Bharatmala Pariyojana has crossed a major milestone, with over 21,700 km of highways completed by December 2025. With Rs 4.93 lakh crore spent so far, the programme focuses on economic corridors, urban decongestion and freight efficiency. Ongoing projects are targeted for completion by 2027–28.
