**Executive Summary**
This document is the answer provided by the Minister of Road Transport and Highways on February 12, 2026, to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding the construction of roads under the Bharatmala Pariyojana. It details the progress, impact, and challenges associated with the project as of January 31st, 2026. New sanctions of projects under Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana have been discontinued.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Project Approval and Scope:**
* The Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I was approved in 2017, covering 34,800 km across the country.
* The estimated financial outlay was Rs. 5,35,000 Crore.
* Projects totaling 26,425 km have been awarded.
* 21,783 km have been constructed until December 2025.
* **Financial Expenditure:**
* The expenditure incurred on Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I by NHAI till January 31st, 2026 is Rs. 5,30,758.24 crore.
* **Impact Assessment:**
* A study by IIM Bangalore indicates positive socio-economic effects, including increased household income and logistics efficiency.
* The project has improved access to markets, factories, schools, and healthcare facilities.
* **Construction Delays and Mitigation:**
* Primary reasons for delays include land acquisition issues, statutory clearances, utility shifting, encroachment removal, material availability, contractor performance, and force majeure events (e.g., COVID-19, floods).
* Measures to expedite execution include streamlining land acquisition through Bhoomi Rashi portal, revamping the Parivesh Portal for environmental clearances, online approval for ROB/RUB drawings, and review meetings.
* **Support for Local Enterprises:**
* Government initiatives support local contractors, indigenous manufacturing, and infrastructure development.
* The project promotes the use of local construction materials and services, reinforcing the "Make in India" and "Atmanirbhar Bharat" initiatives.
**Impact Analysis**
**Government**
* **Impact:** Accountable for project progress and addressing delays.
* **Action Required:** Continue streamlining processes, resolving land acquisition and clearance issues, and ensuring timely project completion.
**NHAI**
* **Impact:** Responsible for project execution and expenditure.
* **Action Required:** Implement measures to expedite project completion, manage budget effectively, and address construction delays.
**Local Contractors and MSMEs**
* **Impact:** Benefit from opportunities in construction and related services.
* **Action Required:** Leverage government initiatives to participate in the Bharatmala Pariyojana and contribute to local manufacturing.
**Citizens**
* **Impact:** Benefit from improved infrastructure, reduced travel times, and enhanced socio-economic development.
* **Action Required:** No specific action required.
Key Entities Referenced
Bharatmala Pariyojana: A centrally-sponsored and funded Roads and Highways project in India.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways network.
NHAI: National Highways Authority of India, responsible for the implementation of the Bharatmala Pariyojana
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2232
ANSWERED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 2026
CONSTRUCTION OF ROADS UNDER BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA
2232. SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S:
SHRI BAPI HALDAR:
SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the total number of Bharatmala Pariyojana projects sanctioned and
completed so far, along with their length (in kilometres) and the
budget expenditure incurred so far, State-wise, particularly for Tamil
Nadu and the length of projects yet to be awarded;
(b) the total length of roads constructed or upgraded under Bharatmala
Pariyojana during the last three years, along with the estimated cost
and timelines;
(c) whether the Government has assessed the impact of Bharatmala
Pariyojana on freight efficiency, regional connectivity and local
economic development;
(d) the steps taken to ensure timely completion of pending projects
and resolution of land acquisition or environmental clearance issues;
(e) the targets fixed for road construction under the said scheme and
the physical progress made against the targets;
(f) whether the Government has not been able to construct the
determined length of roads against the targets fixed under Bharatmala
Pariyojana so far, if so, the details thereof along with reasons therefor;
and
(g) the measures adopted to ensure that local employment, small
contractors, and MSMEs benefit from Bharatmala Pariyojana
projects?ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (b) Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I was approved by the
Government in 2017 covering a length of 34,800 km across the country
at an estimated outlay of Rs. 5,35,000 Crore. Under the program,
projects covering a total length of 26,425 km had been awarded and
out of this, 21,783 km has already been constructed upto December
2025. The state-wise details are annexed.
New sanctions of projects under Phase-I of Bharatmala
Pariyojana have been discontinued. The expenditure incurred on
Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I till 31st January 2026 by NHAI is
Rs.5,30,758.24 crore.
(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. As per the study conducted by
IIM Bangalore, Bharatmala Pariyojana has demonstrated significant
socio-economic benefits.
(d) to (f) Out of 26,425 km awarded length under Bharatmala
Pariyojana Phase I, 21,783 km has been constructed upto December
2025. The primary reasons for delay in National Highway (NH) projects
are issues / bottlenecks relating to land acquisition, delay in getting
statutory clearances / permissions, utility shifting, encroachment
removal, law & order, non-availability of construction material /
minerals, poor performance of Contractor / Concessionaire, and Force
Majeure events like Covid-19 pandemic, heavy rainfall, floods, cyclone,
landslides / avalanches, etc. To expedite project execution, various
initiatives have been undertaken. These include streamlining and
expediting the land acquisition process through Bhoomi Rashi portal,
revamping the Parivesh Portal through Ministry of Environment,
Forests and Climate Change to expedite forest and environmental
clearances, enabling online approval of General Arrangement
Drawings (GAD) for Road over Bridges (ROBs) and Road under Bridges
(RUBs) from the Railways, and conducting review meetings at variouslevels with all stakeholders, including State Governments. The
Government is taking all necessary steps for timely completion of
these projects.
(g) Various initiatives of the Government supports local contractors,
indigenous manufacturing and infrastructure development to promote
self-reliance in the transport and logistics sector. The initiative
facilitates the use of local construction materials, machinery &
services, thereby strengthening the local manufacturing system,
reinforcing the idea of Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat.ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (b) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2232 ANSWERED ON 12TH
FEBRUARY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI THARANIVENTHAN M S, SHRI BAPI
HALDAR AND SHRI HANUMAN BENIWAL REGARDING ‘CONSTRUCTION
OF ROADS UNDER BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA’.
Total Length Length Length Constructed
State
(km) Awarded (km) till 31st Dec’ 25 (km)
Andhra Pradesh 2,525 1,936 1,428
Assam 433 431 411
Bihar 1,572 1,159 743
Chhattisgarh 571 471 374
Delhi 203 203 191
Goa 26 26 26
Gujarat 1,577 1,194 1,049
Haryana 1,058 1,058 992
Himachal Pradesh 167 167 116
Jammu & Kashmir 433 251 164
Jharkhand 1,000 801 521
Karnataka 2,059 1,603 1,199
Kerala 1,126 708 523
Madhya Pradesh 3,063 2,017 1,731
Maharashtra 3,029 2,174 1,975
Manipur 635 635 521
Meghalaya 170 170 137
Mizoram 593 593 524
Nagaland 208 208 164
Odisha 1,586 967 941
Punjab 1,764 1,553 822
Rajasthan 2,503 2,360 2,260
Tamil Nadu 2,414 1,476 1,320
Telangana 1,719 1,026 915
Tripura 94 94 69
Uttar Pradesh 3,126 2,495 2,120
Uttarakhand 273 264 193
West Bengal 874 385 356
Total 34,800 26,425 21,783
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