Government prioritises 4-lane e-way construction
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Government prioritises 4-lane e-way construction

The government is expected to revise the method of measuring highway construction in the country from 'road km' to 'lane km' starting from this financial year, with the emphasis now shifting towards constructing more expressways and roads consisting of at least four lanes. For the purpose of comparing with previous data, the details of national highway construction from earlier years will be converted to lane km.

The linear length method is employed for gauging the progress of construction and widening of National Highways (NHs). Consequently, both a single kilometre of a six-lane road and a two-lane road are treated as 1km. A source stated, Overall highway construction, as per the current road km norm, is almost at its peak. Now we are focusing on constructing more high-speed roads and expressways. Therefore, proceeding with the current norms will have minimal relevance. Furthermore, it was noted that even the railways measure their laying of tracks and electrification in terms of route km.

Last year, there was a significant controversy following the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which highlighted the very high civil construction cost of the 29-km Dwarka expressway. While the report stated that the average cost per km was Rs 2.51 billion, compared to the Rs 180.2 million per km approved by the government, the highway ministry pointed out that the stretch, including elevated and underground structures, comprised 563 lane km. According to the latest data, NH construction and widening during 2023-24 reached 12,349 km, with 42% (5,193 km) of these being more than four lanes, marking the highest-ever construction of such highway stretches.

The government is expected to revise the method of measuring highway construction in the country from 'road km' to 'lane km' starting from this financial year, with the emphasis now shifting towards constructing more expressways and roads consisting of at least four lanes. For the purpose of comparing with previous data, the details of national highway construction from earlier years will be converted to lane km. The linear length method is employed for gauging the progress of construction and widening of National Highways (NHs). Consequently, both a single kilometre of a six-lane road and a two-lane road are treated as 1km. A source stated, Overall highway construction, as per the current road km norm, is almost at its peak. Now we are focusing on constructing more high-speed roads and expressways. Therefore, proceeding with the current norms will have minimal relevance. Furthermore, it was noted that even the railways measure their laying of tracks and electrification in terms of route km. Last year, there was a significant controversy following the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report, which highlighted the very high civil construction cost of the 29-km Dwarka expressway. While the report stated that the average cost per km was Rs 2.51 billion, compared to the Rs 180.2 million per km approved by the government, the highway ministry pointed out that the stretch, including elevated and underground structures, comprised 563 lane km. According to the latest data, NH construction and widening during 2023-24 reached 12,349 km, with 42% (5,193 km) of these being more than four lanes, marking the highest-ever construction of such highway stretches.

Next Story
Technology

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Next Story
Real Estate

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?