Centre Strengthens Mechanism To Fast-Track Expressway Projects

31 Jul 2026 CW Team

The structured review framework is reported to involve all stakeholders at both Central and State Government levels and to include periodic monitoring, inter-agency coordination and dedicated problem resolution processes. The mechanism is intended to bring together the respective State Governments and relevant central agencies to identify implementation bottlenecks and to pursue corrective action within agreed timelines. It is described as a regular exercise rather than an ad hoc intervention.

The Minister provided project metrics in the parliamentary response, stating that a total of 10,389 kilometre (km) of National High-Speed Corridors has been sanctioned nationally, with construction of 4,809 km completed and work on 5,580 km under way. The reply noted that a detailed state-wise annexure sets out sanctioned lengths, sections under construction, completed stretches and operational corridors to allow tracking of progress. Officials emphasised that the annexure is intended to support transparency and state-wise accountability.

The Government has also introduced specific reforms to accelerate implementation, including streamlined land acquisition using the Bhoomi Rashi portal and GIS-based planning, and upgrades to the Parivesh portal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to facilitate faster environmental and forest clearances. Further measures include enabling online approval of General Arrangement Drawings for Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges by the Railways and strengthening institutional arrangements for active coordination with State Governments and other stakeholders to resolve bottlenecks. The combination of technological tools and administrative oversight is presented as the means to fast-track remaining projects.

The Central Government has put in place a comprehensive mechanism to review progress of all ongoing National High-Speed Corridor and Greenfield Expressway projects across the country, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has informed Parliament. The development was disclosed in a written reply by the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, to an Unstarred Question raised by Rajya Sabha member Naresh Bansal. The reply set out the framework and the administrative and technological reforms introduced to expedite delayed highway projects. The structured review framework is reported to involve all stakeholders at both Central and State Government levels and to include periodic monitoring, inter-agency coordination and dedicated problem resolution processes. The mechanism is intended to bring together the respective State Governments and relevant central agencies to identify implementation bottlenecks and to pursue corrective action within agreed timelines. It is described as a regular exercise rather than an ad hoc intervention. The Minister provided project metrics in the parliamentary response, stating that a total of 10,389 kilometre (km) of National High-Speed Corridors has been sanctioned nationally, with construction of 4,809 km completed and work on 5,580 km under way. The reply noted that a detailed state-wise annexure sets out sanctioned lengths, sections under construction, completed stretches and operational corridors to allow tracking of progress. Officials emphasised that the annexure is intended to support transparency and state-wise accountability. The Government has also introduced specific reforms to accelerate implementation, including streamlined land acquisition using the Bhoomi Rashi portal and GIS-based planning, and upgrades to the Parivesh portal of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change to facilitate faster environmental and forest clearances. Further measures include enabling online approval of General Arrangement Drawings for Road Over Bridges and Road Under Bridges by the Railways and strengthening institutional arrangements for active coordination with State Governments and other stakeholders to resolve bottlenecks. The combination of technological tools and administrative oversight is presented as the means to fast-track remaining projects.

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