Parliament Question: Construction of Highways under Bharatmala Pariyojana

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2028 ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2026 CONSTRUCTION OF HIGHWAYS UNDER BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA 2028. SHRI ATUL GARG: SHRI ARUN BHARTI: SMT. SHAMBHAVI: DR. D. PURANDESWARI: SHRI RAJESH VERMA: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the pace of highway construction under the Bharatmala Pariyojana has successfully transformed the nation's connectivity, drastically reducing travel times for common citizens; (b) if so, the access-controlled expressways and national highways successfully completed and opened to the public during the last two financial years particularly in Ghaziabad & Jamui, Samastipur, Rajahmundry and Khagaria Lok Sabha Constituencies; (c) whether this visionary infrastructure push has seamlessly connected isolated rural agricultural hubs to major urban markets, directly multiplying the daily incomes of ordinary small- scale farmers, if so, the details thereof; (d) the details of the massive direct and indirect employment opportunities successfully generated for millions of rural youth through these mega road construction projects; and (e) the future steps planned to build State-of-the-art wayside amenities, featuring affordable food courts and clean public washrooms, every fifty kilometers for the comfort of common travellers?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) Yes Sir. The implementation of project under Bharatmala Pariyojana has significantly strengthened the National Highway network by improving connectivity between economic centres, ports, industrial clusters, border areas, and tourist destinations. Development of access-controlled expressways and high-speed corridors under the programme is envisaged to reduce travel time by 40–50% between key economic centres and major destinations, while enhancing logistics efficiency, reducing vehicle operating costs, and providing safer and faster travel for commuters. Overall, the programme has substantially improved connectivity and mobility across the country. (b) Total length of National Highways including Access-Controlled Highway/Expressway constructed in the Financial Year 2024-25 and 2025-26 is 10,660 km and 9,361 km, respectively across the country including Lok Sabha Constituencies of Ghaziabad & Jamui, Samastipur, Rajahmundry and Khagaria. (c) The study conducted by Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Bangalore to evaluate the impact of Bharatmala Pariyojana indicates positive effects across multiple sectors. Economically, household income and expenditure has increased. Logistics efficiency has improved with reduced costs. Businesses have benefited from better access to markets and factories. Socially, travel time to schools and healthcare facilities has decreased, enhancing accessibility. Overall, the study suggests that Bharatmala Pariyojana has significantly contributed to socio- economic growth. (d) As per the study by IIT Kanpur, development of each lane- kilometer of a highway generates about 4,500 person-days of direct employment and about 5,600 person-days of indirect employment. Accordingly, project under Bharatmala Pariyojana has generated huge direct as also indirect employment across the country. (e) Government envisions development of wayside amenities, at approx. interval of 40-60 kms along National Highways andExpressways for providing public facilities like eateries, toilet, drinking water, parking, fuel stations, EV charging stations, short term accommodation, medical aid etc. to the road users and truckers. As on date, 137 WSA sites are operational along National Highways and Expressways across the country. *****