Executive Summary:
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1975, this document outlines the progress of the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I as of July 31, 2025. Approved in 2017, the project aimed to develop 34,800 km of highways. The document details the length of highways sanctioned, completed, and pending, state-wise, along with reasons for cost escalation and measures being taken to expedite project completion.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Project Overview:**
* Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I approved in 2017.
* Target length: 34,800 km across the country.
* Initial estimated cost: Rs. 5.35 lakh Crore.
* **Current Status:**
* 26,425 km of projects awarded at a cost of about Rs 8.53 lakh Crore.
* 20,770 km of highways constructed till June 2025.
* State-wise details of awarded and constructed projects are annexed.
* **Reasons for Delays and Cost Overruns:**
* Land acquisition issues.
* Delays in pre-construction activities.
* Financial difficulties faced by contractors.
* Force majeure events.
* Scarcity of construction materials.
* **Government Initiatives to Expedite Completion:**
* Streamlining land acquisition through Bhoomi Rashi portal.
* Revamping the Parivesh Portal for faster environmental clearances.
* Online approval of General Arrangement Drawings (GAD) for ROBs and RUBs from Railways.
* Review meetings with stakeholders, including State Governments.
Impact Analysis:
* **Contractors:**
* Impact: Potential for financial difficulties affecting project timelines and requiring adherence to revised processes.
* Action Required: Proactively address financial challenges, comply with streamlined processes for approvals and clearances, and participate in review meetings.
* **State Governments:**
* Impact: Collaboration required in land acquisition and project monitoring.
* Action Required: Expedite land acquisition processes, participate in review meetings, and coordinate with central authorities to resolve project-related issues.
* **Ministry of Road Transport and Highways:**
* Impact: Responsible for overseeing project execution, addressing delays, and managing cost escalations.
* Action Required: Continue implementing initiatives to expedite project completion, monitor progress, and address challenges related to land acquisition, clearances, and contractor performance.
* **Citizens/General Public:**
* Impact: Benefit from improved road infrastructure, reduced travel times, and enhanced connectivity. Delays impact the realization of these benefits.
* Action Required: N/A
Key Entities Referenced
Bharatmala Pariyojana: A centrally-sponsored and funded road and highways project in India.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of the national highways network.
Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways in India.
Andhra Pradesh: A state in India, mentioned in the context of highway projects under Bharatmala Pariyojana.
Assam: A state in India, mentioned in the context of highway projects under Bharatmala Pariyojana.
Bihar: A state in India, mentioned in the context of highway projects under Bharatmala Pariyojana.
Bhoomi Rashi portal: A portal used for streamlining and expediting the land acquisition process for highway projects.
Parivesh Portal: A portal used to facilitate faster forest and environmental clearances.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1975
ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY, 2025
COST ESCALATION UNDER BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA
1975. SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the length of highways in kilometres sanctioned/completed and
the percentage of projects completed/pending under the Bharatmala
Pariyojana, State-wise;
(b) the total estimated cost of the above pariyojana at the time of
initial approval and the current revised estimated cost along with the
reasons for cost escalation;
(c) the funds released under the scheme so far, year-wise and State-
wise; and
(d) the steps being taken to expedite the completion of pending
highway stretches to avoid further delays and cost overruns?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I was approved by Government
in 2017 covering a length of 34,800 km across the country at an
estimated cost of Rs.5.35 lakh Crore. Under the program, projects
covering a total length of 26,425 km were awarded at a cost of about
Rs 8.53 lakh Crore and 20,770 km has already been constructed. TheState-wise length of awarded and constructed projects under
Bharatmala Pariyojana upto June 2025 is Annexed.
The various factors such as issues related to land acquisition,
delays in pre-construction activities, financial difficulties faced by
contractors, force majeure events, and scarcity of construction
materials etc. have resulted in delays and cost overrun in certain
projects.
To overcome these challenges and expedite project execution,
the government has undertaken various initiatives. These include
streamlining and expediting the land acquisition process through
Bhoomi Rashi portal, revamping the Parivesh Portal to facilitate faster
forest and environmental clearances, enabling online approval of
General Arrangement Drawings (GAD) for Road over Bridges (ROBs)
and Road under Bridges (RUB) from the Railways, and conducting
review meetings at various levels with all stakeholders, including
State Governments. The Government is taking all necessary steps for
timely completion of these projects.ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (d) OF LOK
SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1975 ANSWERED ON 31ST JULY,
2025 ASKED BY SHRI RAMASAHAYAM RAGHURAM REDDY
REGARDING ‘COST ESCALATION UNDER BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA’.
Total
Length Awarded Length Constructed
State Length
(km) till June 2025 (km)
(km)
Andhra Pradesh 2,525 1,936 1,234
Assam 433 431 349
Bihar 1,572 1,159 698
Chhattisgarh 571 471 344
Delhi 203 203 187
Goa 26 26 26
Gujarat 1,577 1,194 1,023
Haryana 1,058 1,058 977
Himachal Pradesh 167 167 115
Jammu & Kashmir 433 251 145
Jharkhand 1,000 801 508
Karnataka 2,059 1,603 1,156
Kerala 1,126 708 506
Madhya Pradesh 3,063 2,017 1,674
Maharashtra 3,029 2,174 1,944
Manipur 635 635 443
Meghalaya 170 170 118
Mizoram 593 593 493
Nagaland 208 208 153
Odisha 1,586 967 928
Punjab 1,764 1,553 714
Rajasthan 2,503 2,360 2,257
Tamil Nadu 2,414 1,476 1,265
Telangana 1,719 1,026 874
Tripura 94 94 64
Uttar Pradesh 3,126 2,495 2,061
Uttarakhand 273 264 174
West Bengal 874 385 339
Total 34,800 26,425 20,770
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