Indian highways target doubling average travel speed

22 Dec 2023 CW Team

To actualise this proposal, the initial phase of the comprehensive master plan for highway development is set to commence, initiating projects for bidding by 2028-29. Subsequent construction is slated for completion by 2031-32. Upon establishment of this expansive road network, it is anticipated that the average travel speed on national highways will nearly double, surging from the current 47 kmph to 85 kmph.

Nitin Gadkari, the Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has alluded to the possibility of raising speed limits on national highways to facilitate faster transit for commuters.

In contrast to other nations, where highway speeds exceed 100 kmph in the United States and around 90 kmph in China, the Indian government aims to elevate the average speed, targeting a reduction in logistics costs to 9-10% of the GDP. Currently, these costs constitute approximately 18% of the GDP.

To enhance accessibility and alleviate congestion in and around cities and urban areas, the ministry has identified specific high-speed corridors strategically positioned within a range of 100-150 km from any part of India.

The ministry's assessment indicates a projected need for approximately 50,000 km of high-speed corridors, with only 3,900 km currently operational. However, it is expected that this figure will increase to around 11,000 km by 2026-27. Recognising this significant gap, the ministry has identified new high-speed corridors spanning 36,500 km to address congestion. Over the next two decades, the primary focus will be on constructing four and six-lane highways.

Infrastructure Urban

17 Sep 2025

DCPC Prepares for Special Campaign 5.0 with Focus on E-Waste

The Department of Chemicals and Petrochemicals (DCPC), Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilisers, is gearing up for Special Campaign 5.0, to be held from 2nd to 31st October 2025. The initiative will focus on e-waste disposal as per MoEFCC’s E-Waste Management Rules 2022, space optimisation, and enhancing workplace efficiency across field offices.Special Campaign 4.0, conducted between October 2023 and October 2024, delivered notable results in record management, grievance redressal, scrap disposal, and cleanliness drives.Key outcomes of Special Campaign 4.0Records management: 2,443 physical fil..

BlackRock India Leases 1.4 Lakh Sq Ft in Bengaluru

BlackRock Services India, the domestic arm of global asset manager BlackRock, has leased 1.4 lakh sq ft of office space at IndiQube Symphony in Bengaluru, according to Propstack data. The 10-year deal is valued at around Rs 4.10 billion.The lease, among the largest transactions in India’s co-working sector, highlights the growing preference of global institutions for flexible office providers. The agreement, commencing October 1, 2025, covers ground plus five floors in KNG Tower 1 at Ashoknagar, MG Road — one of Bengaluru’s prime commercial hubs.As per the lease document, BlackRock will ..

L&T Bags Rs 25–50 Bn Order for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Bullet Train Track Works

Larsen & Toubro’s (L&T) Transportation Infrastructure business has secured an order valued between Rs 25 crore and Rs 50 billion from the National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) for the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail (MAHSR) corridor.The contract, Package T1, involves the design, supply, construction, testing, and commissioning of 156 route km of high-speed ballastless track on a Design-Build Lump Sum Price basis. The stretch runs from Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex to Zaroli village in Gujarat and includes 21 km of underground track and 135 km of elevated viaduct.Se..