The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved eight national high-speed road corridor projects spanning 936 km, with a total investment of Rs 50,655 crore. This initiative aims to improve logistics efficiency and connectivity across India, generating an estimated 4.42 crore mandays of direct and indirect employment.
Agra-Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor
One of the key projects is the 88 km Agra-Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor, which will be developed on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis as a fully access-controlled 6-lane corridor. With a capital cost of Rs 4,613 crore, this project will double the traffic capacity in the Agra-Gwalior section of the North-South Corridor. It will enhance connectivity to key tourist destinations and reduce travel time between Agra and Gwalior by 50%.
Kharagpur-Moregram Corridor
The 231 km Kharagpur-Moregram National High-Speed Corridor will be developed in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at a cost of Rs 10,247 crore. This corridor will increase the traffic capacity fivefold, providing efficient connectivity between states such as West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, and the North-Eastern part of India.
Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad Corridor
The 214 km Tharad-Deesa-Mehsana-Ahmedabad National High-Speed Corridor will be developed in BOT mode with a capital cost of Rs 10,534 crore. This corridor will connect key National Corridors in Gujarat, providing seamless connectivity for freight vehicles from industrial regions to major ports.
Other Significant Projects
Other approved projects include:
- The 68 km Ayodhya Ring Road (Rs 3,935 crore) to reduce congestion for pilgrims visiting Ram Mandir.
- The 137 km Pathalgaon-Gumla section of the Raipur-Ranchi National High-Speed Corridor (Rs 4,473 crore) to enhance connectivity between mining and industrial zones.
- The 47 km Kanpur Ring Road (Rs 3,298 crore) to complete a 6-lane National Highway Ring around Kanpur.
- The 121 km Northern Guwahati Bypass and improvement of the existing Guwahati Bypass (Rs 5,729 crore), including a major bridge over the Brahmaputra.
- The 30 km elevated Nashik Phata-Khed Corridor near Pune (Rs 7,827 crore) to provide seamless high-speed connectivity and alleviate congestion around Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Strategic Impact
Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the transformative impact of these projects on India’s infrastructure. The government’s corridor-based approach to highway development focuses on consistent standards, user convenience, and logistics efficiency. This method has identified a network of 50,000 km of High-Speed Highway Corridors to support India’s transformation into a USD 30+ trillion economy by 2047. Each rupee spent on infrastructure is expected to have a multiplier effect of 2.5-3.0 times on GDP, significantly boosting economic growth and improving the quality of life for citizens.
