Government Sets Lowest National Highway Construction Target for 2025-26
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

Government Sets Lowest National Highway Construction Target for 2025-26

The government has set a target of constructing 10,000 km of national highways (NHs) in 2025-26, the lowest in the past seven years, according to the Budget document. Despite this, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is focusing on expanding wider highways and expressways, aiming to develop 5,800 km of high-speed corridors within the next year.

The target for FY26 may undergo revision, but the slower pace is expected due to fewer ongoing projects. The reduced number of newly awarded projects in 2023-24 and the current year will affect construction over the next two years. According to the document, the Ministry aims to generate Rs 30,000 crore from the monetisation of completed highway projects and secure Rs 35,000 crore in private investments.

Additionally, Rs 128 crore has been allocated for implementing cashless treatment for road crash victims across states and Union Territories. The scheme is currently operational in Assam, Chandigarh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Puducherry. The Ministry also plans to eliminate 1,000 black spots on national highways and to conduct road safety audits on 40,000 km of highways.

Since 2018-19, NH construction targets have varied, with the lowest being 10,237 km in 2019-20 and the highest at 13,327 km in 2020-21 despite COVID-19 disruptions. In 2023-24, NH construction reached 12,349 km, and officials anticipate completing around 10,500 km by March 2025. By mid-February, around 8,000 km had already been constructed.

The government has set a target of constructing 10,000 km of national highways (NHs) in 2025-26, the lowest in the past seven years, according to the Budget document. Despite this, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is focusing on expanding wider highways and expressways, aiming to develop 5,800 km of high-speed corridors within the next year. The target for FY26 may undergo revision, but the slower pace is expected due to fewer ongoing projects. The reduced number of newly awarded projects in 2023-24 and the current year will affect construction over the next two years. According to the document, the Ministry aims to generate Rs 30,000 crore from the monetisation of completed highway projects and secure Rs 35,000 crore in private investments. Additionally, Rs 128 crore has been allocated for implementing cashless treatment for road crash victims across states and Union Territories. The scheme is currently operational in Assam, Chandigarh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Puducherry. The Ministry also plans to eliminate 1,000 black spots on national highways and to conduct road safety audits on 40,000 km of highways. Since 2018-19, NH construction targets have varied, with the lowest being 10,237 km in 2019-20 and the highest at 13,327 km in 2020-21 despite COVID-19 disruptions. In 2023-24, NH construction reached 12,349 km, and officials anticipate completing around 10,500 km by March 2025. By mid-February, around 8,000 km had already been constructed.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Products

Koemmerling opens Navi Mumbai experience centre

Koemmerling, a brand of the profine Group, has expanded its presence in the Mumbai metropolitan region with the opening of a new experience centre in Navi Mumbai and launched its Allure S46 minimal sliding door system for the Indian market.Located in CBD Belapur, the facility was inaugurated by Peter Mrosik, Owner and CEO, profine Group, along with Farid Khan, Chairman and Managing Director, profine India, and Kamal Bajaj, CEO, profine India.The company said the new centre will showcase its portfolio of uPVC and aluminium window and door systems to architects, developers and homeowners.The ina..

Next Story
Products

India's waterproofing market nears Rs 150 bn milestone

India's waterproofing industry is approaching a market size of Rs 150 billion and is expected to surpass the $2 billion milestone, according to speakers at the 2nd India International Waterproofers Conference & Expo 2026 organised by the Waterproofers Association of India (WAI) in New Delhi.The two-day event brought together more than 20 speakers, 55 international delegates and 53 exhibition booths, with discussions focusing on climate-resilient construction, advanced waterproofing technologies and international collaboration.Inaugurating the event, Durga Shanker Mishra, former Secretary, ..

Next Story
Real Estate

Dilip Buildcon Q1 FY27 Revenue at Rs 23.78 billion

Dilip Buildcon Limited reported consolidated revenue from operations of Rs 2,378 crore in Q1 FY27, along with EBITDA of Rs 429 crore and profit after tax of Rs 128 crore.Consolidated EBITDA margin stood at 18.1%, improving from 17.1% in Q4 FY26. On a standalone basis, revenue from operations was Rs 1,930 crore, EBITDA stood at Rs 199 crore and PAT was Rs 39 crore, with an EBITDA margin of 10.3%.The company’s order book stood at Rs 27,691 crore as of 30 June 2026, compared with Rs 28,830 crore as of 31 March 2026. Roads and highways accounted for 17.1% of the order book, irrigation and water ..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement