Road sector sees major growth over last five years

29 Sep 2022 CW Team

India has seen significant growth in its road network over the last five years, as the government has given priority to this sector. For the financial year 2021-22, the Central budget allocated more than Rs 1.18 trillion to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

India currently has one of the largest road networks in the world, spanning over 5.8 million km. Of this, around 2% are National Highways, 3% are State Highways and the rest are part of the district and rural road network. Over 64.5% of all goods and 90% of passenger traffic move by road.

The government has identified various economic corridors help transform India’s economy. The importance attached to the sector is also evinced by the fact that it accounts for approximately 18% of the National Infrastructure Pipeline. Various state governments are also developing critical road corridors as a catalyst of economic development.

The government has taken measures to revive languishing projects, solve operational issues to ensure timely completion of projects, provide time bound dispute resolution, expedite land acquisition, put enhanced focus on road safety and adopt technology enabled solutions.

Lately the focus has been on road safety, green initiatives, digital transformation and augmentation of funding sources.

Building Material

15 Oct 2025

Centre Plans Easier Green Clearances for New Airports

The central government is preparing to streamline environmental clearance procedures for airport projects to accelerate infrastructure development across the country. According to officials, the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) is working with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) to establish a single-window mechanism for faster approval of greenfield and brownfield airports. The proposal seeks to reduce the time required for obtaining environmental clearance by simplifying inter-ministerial coordination and standardising assessment parameters. The move is part of ..

Beer Makers Urge Import Relaxation Amid Aluminium Can Shortage

India’s domestic beer manufacturers have urged the government to relax import rules and cut duties on aluminium cans as the industry faces a severe shortage of packaging material. The shortage, driven by rising demand and limited local supply, has disrupted production schedules for several breweries. Industry representatives have written to the Ministry of Commerce and the Ministry of Finance, seeking temporary relief through faster import approvals and reduced customs duties. They warn that the situation could impact the availability of beer across key markets during the festive season. A..

India Surpasses Japan as World’s Third-Largest Auto Market

India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s third-largest automobile market, marking a major milestone for the country’s manufacturing and mobility sector. Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, credited the achievement to India’s growing production capacity, rising domestic demand, and sustained policy support for localisation and innovation. The country’s vehicle sales and manufacturing output have surged in recent years, positioning it just behind China and the United States. According to industry estimates, India’s automobile sector supports over 3..