**Policy Summary: National Highway Development and Connectivity in Tribal and Backward Areas**
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs), including those connecting aspirational and tribal districts. This is an ongoing process, prioritized based on traffic density, connectivity needs, road conditions, and alignment with the PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP). Since April 2014, the government has constructed 108,743 km of NHs, including 4,775 km within or adjoining tribal districts in the last five years and current year. Notably, 7,517 km of NHs have been constructed in Madhya Pradesh during this period.
A study by the Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, analyzing the impact of NH development projects between 2014 and 2022, found that every one-rupee expenditure in NH development leads to a 3.2 increase in GDP. The study also showed improvements in transportation times and access to essential services in treatment districts compared to control districts, including:
* A 9.19% decrease in transportation time between factories and suppliers.
* A 4.93% decrease in transportation time between factories and customers.
* A 16.6% reduction in time to access schools.
* A 9% reduction in time to access health services.
* A 7% decrease in time to reach Mandis (agricultural markets).
* An 8 increase in the average number of Mandis accessed.
While the government focuses on NH development, last-mile connectivity to agricultural centers, schools, healthcare facilities, and tourism centers remains the responsibility of State Governments. Currently, 217 NH projects, spanning 8,025 km with a total cost of 3.23 Lakh Crore, are under construction in the country under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. The government is actively seeking to attract private investment through reforms in Model Concession Agreements for PPP Projects, Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT) models, and stakeholder conferences to address investor concerns.
This information was provided by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, in a written reply to the Lok Sabha on August 7, 2025.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways.
National Highways (NHs): A network of highways in India maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP): A national master plan for infrastructure development in India.
Madhya Pradesh: A state in India where 7,517 km of National Highways have been constructed since April 2014.
Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore: An institute that conducted a study on the impact of development of National Highways projects 2014-2022 in the country.
Lok Sabha: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where information regarding NH development was provided.
Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways who provided information in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.
Public Private Partnership (PPP): A model for infrastructure development where the government partners with private companies.
Ministry of Road Transport & Highways
Connecting Tribal and Backward Areas
Posted On: 07 AUG 2025 8:27PM by PIB Delhi
The Government in Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is primarily responsible for development and
maintenance of National Highways (NHs). All the aspirational and tribal districts are connected with the NH
network.
Development and maintenance of NHs, including NHs providing connectivity to aspirational and tribal
districts and other districts, is a continuous process. Works on NHs, including capacity augmentation, are
accordingly taken up based on the traffic density, connectivity requirement, condition of the road, inter-se
priority and synergy with PM GatiShakti National Master Plan (NMP).
NHs are primarily meant for long distance connectivity. Government has constructed 1,08,743 km of NHs,
including NHs connecting large cities, urban areas, villages, aspirational and tribal districts, and other
districts since April, 2014. This includes 4,775 km length constructed as part of NHs projects confined within
one or more adjoining tribal districts during the last five years and current year.
Government has constructed 7,517 km of NHs in the State of Madhya Pradesh since April, 2014.
Based on the study by Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore on impact of development of National
Highways projects (2014-2022) in the country, broad findings are as under:-
1. Every one-rupee expenditure in National Highway development leads to a ₹ 3.2 increase in GDP;The
time taken for transportation between factories and suppliers has decreased by 9.19% in treatment
districts vis- à-vis control districts;The time taken for transportation between factories and customers
has decreased by 4.93% in treatment districts as compared to control districts;The time to access schools
has decreased by 16.6% in treatment districts vis-à-vis control districts;There has been a 9% reduction
in time to access health services in treatment districts as compared to control districts;The average time
to reach Mandis decreased by 7% in treatment districts as compared to control districts; andThe average
number of Mandis accessed increased by 8% in treatment districts as compared to control districts.
Although Government is continuously engaged in the development of NHs to boost the economy, the
responsibility for the last mile connectivity to agricultural centers, schools, health care centers, tourism
centers etc. lies with State Government only.
At present, 217 NHs projects in 8,025 km length costing ₹ 3.23 Lakh Crore are under construction in the
country under the Public- Private Partnership (PPP) model.
To attract more private players and make investment opportunities more attractive, the Government has taken
several initiatives like reforms in Model Concession Agreement for PPP Projects, reforms in model contracts
for monetization of NHs through Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT) basis, Stakeholder Conferences held with
concessionaires, financiers, and major government bodies to showcase investment opportunities to private
players as well as understand & address investors' concerns etc.
This information was given by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Jairam
Gadkari in written reply to the Lok Sabha.
***
SR/GDH/SJ(Release ID: 2153893)