India targets pothole-free highways
ROADS & HIGHWAYS

India targets pothole-free highways

The Indian government is finalising a comprehensive plan to eliminate potholes on the country's national highways by December 2023. This initiative involves shifting the construction focus from the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model to the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) for government projects under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Under the BOT model, the responsibility for highway maintenance lies with the contractor, ensuring the creation of high-quality roads that require minimal ongoing maintenance costs, as stated by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari.

To achieve this ambitious goal, the government plans to engage young engineers and is actively exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels in road construction. Projects exceeding Rs 5 billion will predominantly use the BOT and HAM models, while the EPC model will remain in use for smaller road sections.

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mapped the entire 1,46,000-kilometer national highway network and is developing performance-based maintenance and short-term maintenance contracts to eradicate potholes by December 2023. Additionally, the ministry is crafting a policy to encourage the use of municipal waste in road construction, promoting waste segregation facilities.

In an effort to reduce costs and dependency on fossil fuels, the ministry is also working on a draft policy to incentivise the use of alternative fuels in construction equipment. Interest subvention schemes and financial incentives are being considered to encourage investment in equipment powered by alternative fuels.

Furthermore, the ministry is exploring innovative technologies for the development of electric highways, particularly between Delhi and Jaipur, where electric traction will enable the operation of electric buses similar to the railway system. These initiatives aim to decarbonize the transportation sector and drive India towards a sustainable and pothole-free road network.

The Indian government is finalising a comprehensive plan to eliminate potholes on the country's national highways by December 2023. This initiative involves shifting the construction focus from the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) model to the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) model and the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) for government projects under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Under the BOT model, the responsibility for highway maintenance lies with the contractor, ensuring the creation of high-quality roads that require minimal ongoing maintenance costs, as stated by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. To achieve this ambitious goal, the government plans to engage young engineers and is actively exploring ways to reduce carbon emissions and reliance on fossil fuels in road construction. Projects exceeding Rs 5 billion will predominantly use the BOT and HAM models, while the EPC model will remain in use for smaller road sections. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has mapped the entire 1,46,000-kilometer national highway network and is developing performance-based maintenance and short-term maintenance contracts to eradicate potholes by December 2023. Additionally, the ministry is crafting a policy to encourage the use of municipal waste in road construction, promoting waste segregation facilities. In an effort to reduce costs and dependency on fossil fuels, the ministry is also working on a draft policy to incentivise the use of alternative fuels in construction equipment. Interest subvention schemes and financial incentives are being considered to encourage investment in equipment powered by alternative fuels. Furthermore, the ministry is exploring innovative technologies for the development of electric highways, particularly between Delhi and Jaipur, where electric traction will enable the operation of electric buses similar to the railway system. These initiatives aim to decarbonize the transportation sector and drive India towards a sustainable and pothole-free road network.

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Tata, Airbus to Build India’s First Private Helicopter Line

In a landmark development for India’s aerospace sector, Tata Advanced Systems Limited (TASL) and Airbus will establish the country’s first private-sector helicopter assembly line in Vemagal, Karnataka. The facility will manufacture the Airbus H125 and H125M, marking a significant milestone in India’s push for self-reliance in aviation and defence manufacturing. The new Final Assembly Line (FAL) will produce the H125, the world’s best-selling single-engine helicopter, known for its versatility and performance in extreme environments. The first ‘Made in India’ H125 is expected to ro..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

NeGD to Support Bharat Taxi in Building Cooperative Ride Platform

In a significant move for India’s digital and mobility transformation, the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) of the Digital India Corporation, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), has entered into an advisory partnership with Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited, the company behind Bharat Taxi — a first-of-its-kind, cooperative-led national ride-hailing platform. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been signed between NeGD and Sahakar Taxi to provide strategic advisory and technical support covering key areas such as platform integration, cybersecurity..

Next Story
Technology

MeitY Hosts Pre-Summit for India–AI Impact Summit 2026

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), Government of India, hosted a series of Pre-Summit events for the upcoming India–AI Impact Summit 2026 at the India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025 in New Delhi. These sessions mark a key milestone ahead of the main summit, scheduled for 19–20 February 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Delivering the inaugural address, S. Krishnan, Secretary, MeitY, highlighted India’s innovative and frugal approach to AI development. “We have adopted innovative means by learning from others’ experiences to build projects and products that..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?