National Highway network expands over 60% since 2014; Rs 7.8 lakh crore projects underway

National Highway network expands over 60% since 2014; Rs 7.8 lakh crore projects underway

In response to a parliamentary question, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 1,240 National Highway projects are currently under construction. These projects cover a cumulative length of approximately 29,400 km and are being implemented at an estimated cost of ₹7.8 lakh crore.

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The total length of NHs has grown from 91,287 km in March 2014 to 146,342 km as of June 2025The total length of NHs has grown from 91,287 km in March 2014 to 146,342 km as of June 2025
Chetan Bhutani
  • Jul 24, 2025,
  • Updated Jul 24, 2025 1:57 PM IST

The Government has informed the Lok Sabha that the country’s National Highway (NH) network has expanded significantly over the last decade. The total length of NHs has grown from 91,287 km in March 2014 to 146,342 km as of June 2025, marking an increase of over 60%.

In addition to the expansion of the general NH network, the length of access-controlled National High-Speed Corridors (HSCs) or expressways has risen sharply. The government stated that the total length of HSCs has gone up from 93 km in 2014 to approximately 5,110 km today. Of this, 2,636 km has been operationalized across several states, including Rajasthan (964 km), Haryana (583 km), Gujarat (310 km), Uttar Pradesh (232 km), Telangana (153 km), and Karnataka (151 km), among others.

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The pace of highway construction has also shown a steady upward trend. In 2014-15, the construction rate stood at 12 km per day, which increased to a peak of 37 km per day in 2020-21. Over the 10-year period from 2014 to 2024, the average pace of construction has been approximately 26.3 km per day, with a total of over 96,000 km of NHs constructed during this time. In 2023-24 alone, 12,349 km of highways were built at an average pace of 34 km per day.

In response to a parliamentary question, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 1,240 National Highway projects are currently under construction. These projects cover a cumulative length of approximately 29,400 km and are being implemented at an estimated cost of ₹7.8 lakh crore.

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The government’s data reflects the scale and momentum of India’s infrastructure drive, especially in the roads sector, under various national programs since 2014.

The Government has informed the Lok Sabha that the country’s National Highway (NH) network has expanded significantly over the last decade. The total length of NHs has grown from 91,287 km in March 2014 to 146,342 km as of June 2025, marking an increase of over 60%.

In addition to the expansion of the general NH network, the length of access-controlled National High-Speed Corridors (HSCs) or expressways has risen sharply. The government stated that the total length of HSCs has gone up from 93 km in 2014 to approximately 5,110 km today. Of this, 2,636 km has been operationalized across several states, including Rajasthan (964 km), Haryana (583 km), Gujarat (310 km), Uttar Pradesh (232 km), Telangana (153 km), and Karnataka (151 km), among others.

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The pace of highway construction has also shown a steady upward trend. In 2014-15, the construction rate stood at 12 km per day, which increased to a peak of 37 km per day in 2020-21. Over the 10-year period from 2014 to 2024, the average pace of construction has been approximately 26.3 km per day, with a total of over 96,000 km of NHs constructed during this time. In 2023-24 alone, 12,349 km of highways were built at an average pace of 34 km per day.

In response to a parliamentary question, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari also informed the Lok Sabha that a total of 1,240 National Highway projects are currently under construction. These projects cover a cumulative length of approximately 29,400 km and are being implemented at an estimated cost of ₹7.8 lakh crore.

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The government’s data reflects the scale and momentum of India’s infrastructure drive, especially in the roads sector, under various national programs since 2014.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Chetan Bhutani

Chetan Bhutani is a New Delhi-based economic policy journalist with ten years of experience in reporting and breaking stories about economic policy pertaining to India's infrastructure and financial sector, including highways, finance, railways, shipping, telecom, petroleum, and natural gas and currently works as an Associate Editor for Business Today TV. He is a journalist who works across multiple platforms and languages and offers in-depth coverage of the auto industry, regulations, new products, and reviews. Also, he has extensively reported about the actions taken by investigative authorities in relation to corporate and bank frauds as well as significant insolvency cases. Bhutani keeps a tight eye on all aspects of the government's public policies, from their creation to their implementation. In addition to his job, Chetan enjoys scheduling official appointments, travelling, going on road trips, playing cricket, and squash. Also, he is passionate about addressing climate change and road safety. He is a public policy enthusiast and has a master's degree in Public Administration.

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