India’s highway construction saw an 8% decline in the April-January period of the current fiscal year, reflecting slower project execution amid various challenges. According to official data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the total highway construction during this period stood at 7,665 km, compared to 8,342 km in the same period last year.
Despite the slowdown in construction, new highway project awards witnessed a strong rebound, signaling renewed government focus on infrastructure development. The total length of new highway projects awarded between April and January jumped to 6,788 km, marking a 27% increase from the 5,362 km awarded in the previous fiscal year.
Experts attribute the slowdown in construction to land acquisition delays, funding constraints, and prolonged monsoon disruptions, which impacted work progress. However, the rise in project awards suggests a positive outlook for the sector, with expectations of accelerated construction activity in the coming months.
The government has set an ambitious target of building 12,000 km of highways by the end of the fiscal year, and authorities remain optimistic about achieving this goal with increased momentum in execution.
