25,000 km to Get Four Lanes for Rs 10 Trillion

28 Mar 2025 CW Team

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, announced on Thursday that 25,000 km of two-lane highways across India will be upgraded to four lanes at an estimated cost of Rs 10 trillion. "We are planning to convert 25,000 km of two-lane highways into four-lane highways at a cost of Rs 10 trillion. The detailed project reports (DPRs) are being prepared, and we aim to complete the work within two years," he stated during the Question Hour in Lok Sabha.

Additionally, the government will upgrade 16,000 km of national highways to six lanes, requiring an investment of Rs 6 trillion.

Gadkari emphasised the government's commitment to reducing road accidents and enhancing road infrastructure, noting that India loses 3% of its GDP annually due to road accidents.

The Centre is prioritising highway development in Jammu & Kashmir, the Northeast, and hilly regions such as Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. In J&K alone, road projects worth ?2 lakh crore are in progress, including 105 tunnels aimed at improving connectivity.

Among these, the Zojila tunnel—set to be the longest in Asia—will be completed for around ?5,500 crore, significantly lower than the initial Rs 120 billion estimate. Work is also progressing on the Jammu-Srinagar highway, where 36 tunnels are planned, 22 of which have been completed. Once finished, the travel time between Jammu and Srinagar will be cut from seven hours to just three to three and a half hours.

Infrastructure Urban

06 Jul 2026

ABS Marine Sees CRISIL Credit Rating Upgrade

ABS Marine Services has secured an upgrade to its long term and short term credit ratings from CRISIL, reflecting improved profitability and revenue growth through long term contracts. CRISIL moved the long term rating from BBB+/Stable to A-/Stable and revised the short term rating from A2 to A2+. The action signals strengthened financial metrics and operational resilience. The company benefited from durable client relationships with firms such as ONGC and Schlumberger. The rating decision followed stronger cash flows and an enlarged bank loan facility, which increased from Rs 3,705 million (m..

Project BRAHMANK Marks 16 Years Of Strategic Roads In Arunachal

Project BRAHMANK is marking 16 years of work to establish strategic road and bridge links across Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining and developing 811 kilometres of roads and nearly 86 bridges that range from small culverts to large steel and arch bridges. These transport links are described as critical for ensuring year-round movement of defence personnel, equipment and essential supplies while improving everyday travel for people in remote villages. The project balances national security requirements with regional development by focusing on reliable access in challenging terrain. Notable enginee..

Longleng CSOs Give One Week Ultimatum Over Two-Lane Highway

Civil society organisations (CSOs) in Longleng district have demanded immediate restoration of the deteriorating Changtongya–Longleng two-lane road and sought a detailed status report on the stalled construction within one week. The demand followed a consultative meeting convened under the Phom Peoples' Council (PPC) to discuss welfare and development concerns. PPC president YB Angam Phom said prolonged non-maintenance had caused hardship to commuters and affected transportation, local commerce and the district's development. The meeting urged authorities to undertake immediate restoration a..