Rajasthan's 1,000 km of state highways to transform connectivity

The Public Works Department (PWD) is currently underway with the implementation of approximately 25 state highway projects aimed at fortifying the road networks within the state. Valued at Rs 200 billion, these projects are designed to establish connections between most villages and towns either through the existing expressway traversing the state or via the pre-existing state or national highways that ultimately link to an expressway.

Officials have reported that certain stretches of expressways are already running through the state, and both the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the state PWD are actively engaged in the construction of additional expressways. Through these upcoming projects, the state government intends to link towns and remote villages with these expressways or the existing national highways.

""We have initiated some of these projects, encompassing the construction of a 200-kilometer road network. For the remaining 800 kilometres, we have prepared the Detailed Projects Report (DPR) and have applied for loans from the World Bank. The projects will commence once funds become available,"" stated a PWD official.

NHAI is presently working on the 67 km Jaipur-Bandikui link way, connecting Bagrana village in Jaipur to the Delhi-Ahmedabad Expressway in Bandikui. Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently inaugurated the eight-lane Delhi-Vadodara Greenfield Expressway, with approximately 374 kilometres passing through Alwar, Bharatpur, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Tonk, Bundi, and Kota districts of the state.

Another proposed expressway is the Amritsar-Jamnagar Commercial Corridor, with around 637 kilometres passing through Hanumangarh, Ganganagar, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Barmer, and Jalore districts in Rajasthan. Additionally, the state PWD has established a committee dedicated to expressways, tasked with conducting feasibility studies and proposing expressways in the state to be constructed by the state government.

Deputy Chief Minister and PWD Minister Diya Kumari emphasised, ""In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a developed India, developmental initiatives are progressing rapidly in the state. These 1,000 kilometres of state highways will play a pivotal role in establishing a robust road network, providing direct connectivity for remote rural areas and towns to major cities and expressways."" Currently, the state boasts a road connectivity network of 2,45,643 kilometres, encompassing national highways to village roads.