New Delhi: In a significant move to bolster the nation’s infrastructure, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved the development of eight National High-Speed Road Corridor projects according to a PIB report. Spanning a total length of 936 kilometers, these projects will be developed at a capital cost of Rs. 50,655 crore. These initiatives are expected to generate approximately 4.42 crore man-days of direct and indirect employment, significantly contributing to the country’s economic growth.
Key Projects Overview:
- Agra – Gwalior High-Speed Corridor (88 km, Rs. 4,613 Crore): This 6-lane access-controlled corridor will be developed on a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis. The project aims to double the traffic capacity in the Agra-Gwalior section of the North-South Corridor, reducing travel time by 50% and significantly cutting logistics costs. It will enhance connectivity to major tourist destinations in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh.
- Kharagpur – Moregram High-Speed Corridor (231 km, Rs. 10,247 Crore): Developed in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), this 4-lane corridor will increase traffic capacity fivefold between Kharagpur and Moregram. The project will drastically reduce travel time for freight vehicles, from the current 9-10 hours to just 3-5 hours, enhancing logistics efficiency across key states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh.
- Tharad – Ahmedabad High-Speed Corridor (214 km, Rs. 10,534 Crore): This 6-lane BOT project will connect key national corridors in Gujarat, providing seamless connectivity for freight vehicles and improving access to major ports. The project is expected to reduce travel time by 60% and the distance between Tharad and Ahmedabad by 20%.
- Ayodhya Ring Road (68 km, Rs. 3,935 Crore): The 4-lane Ayodhya Ring Road, developed in HAM, will ease congestion on highways passing through Ayodhya. It will provide faster access for pilgrims to the Rama Mandir and improve connectivity for tourists arriving from major airports and railway stations.
- Pathalgaon – Gumla High-Speed Corridor (137 km, Rs. 4,473 Crore): This 4-lane HAM project will enhance connectivity between mining areas and industrial zones in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, completing the Raipur-Dhanbad Economic Corridor.
- Kanpur Ring Road (47 km, Rs. 3,298 Crore): The 6-lane Kanpur Ring Road, developed in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode, will segregate long-distance traffic from city-bound traffic, improving logistics efficiency for freight travelling between several states including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.
- Guwahati Ring Road (121 km, Rs. 5,729 Crore): This project includes a 4-lane Northern Guwahati Bypass, the widening of an existing bypass, and the construction of a major bridge over the Brahmaputra River. It will enhance connectivity to the Northeast region, easing congestion on key highways around Guwahati.
- Nashik Phata – Khed Corridor near Pune (30 km, Rs. 7,827 Crore): The 8-lane elevated corridor, developed on a BOT basis, will provide high-speed connectivity to industrial centers near Pune, alleviating congestion around Pimpri-Chinchwad.
Background and Economic Impact
These projects are part of the Indian government’s broader push to enhance infrastructure, which is viewed as critical to the country’s economic prosperity. The length of National Highways has increased by 1.6 times over the past decade, with significant increases in the pace of highway construction. The government’s corridor-based approach to highway development focuses on ensuring consistent standards and logistics efficiency, as opposed to the earlier project-based approach.
The approved projects are expected to play a key role in supporting India’s transformation into a $30+ trillion economy by 2047, aligning with the government’s vision of making India a global economic powerhouse.
