Over the past decade, India has witnessed significant strides in infrastructure development, bolstering its position as the world’s fifth-largest economy. A key initiative driving this progress is the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, launched in 2021. This plan fosters integrated planning and coordinated execution across various ministries, aiming to provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services. By October 2024, 44 central ministries and 36 states/UTs had been integrated into this initiative, with 1,614 data layers incorporated. Notably, 208 major infrastructure projects worth ₹15.39 lakh crores have been assessed under PM Gati Shakti’s principles.
In the realm of road infrastructure, India’s National Highway network expanded from 65,569 km in 2004 to 1,46,145 km in 2024. The length of highways with four or more lanes grew from 18,371 km in 2014 to 48,422 km in 2024. The pace of highway construction also saw a significant increase, rising from 12.1 km/day in 2014-15 to 33.8 km/day in 2023-24. Capital expenditure in this sector surged from ₹53,000 crore in 2013-14 to ₹3.01 lakh crore in 2023-24, marking the highest investment to date.
The Bharatmala Pariyojana, launched in 2017, aims to develop approximately 26,000 km of Economic Corridors. By November 2024, 18,926 km of roads had been completed under this project. Additionally, a network of 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks is planned, with a total investment of about ₹46,000 crore, expected to handle around 700 million metric tonnes of cargo upon completion.
These initiatives underscore India’s commitment to enhancing its infrastructure, thereby facilitating economic growth and improving the quality of life for its citizens.
