Maharashtra, UP, or Andhra which state got the biggest share of the national highways constructed under the Modi Government?
The construction of new highways is one of the major highlights of the last 10 years of the Modi government. The data available from RBI and PIB showed that the total length of national highways in the country has increased over 60% to 1,46,145 kilometers (km) in financial year 2023 (FY23) from 91,287 km in FY14.
The budget for the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has surged 879% under the Modi government to Rs. 2.76 lakh crore in FY24 from Rs. 28.4 thousand crore in FY14. In the interim budget for FY25 government allocated Rs. 2.78 lakh crore for the sector. In its 10-year tenure, the NDA government has spent Rs.10.65 lakh crore on road transport and highways. As a result, a staggering 53,668 km of new national highway have been constructed in this duration.
Here is the list of states that built the maximum length of new national highway constructed in the last decade.
Maharashtra: India’s largest state economy also boasts the country’s widest national highway network of 18,459 km as of December 2022. Maharashtra also tops the list of states with the construction of maximum length of national highways (NH) under the Modi government by adding 12,210 km of new highways, as the NH network in the state increased 195% to 18,459 km from 6,249 km in 2014.
Uttar Pradesh: The most populous Indian state is at the second spot in the list of national highway construction by adding 4,284 km of new highways. The total length of national highways in the state increased 54% in 10 years to 12,270 km in FY23 from 7,986 km in FY14.
Andhra Pradesh: The southern state saw rapid growth in national highway construction since FY15 after the state divided into two parts by adding 4,013 km of new national highways. The total NH length surged 86% to 8,683 km in FY23 from 4,670 km in FY15.
Madhya Pradesh: A total of 3989 km of new national highways have been built in Madhya Pradesh during the Modi regime. Length of NHs increased 78% to 9,105 km in FY23 from 5,116 km in FY14.
Gujrat: The state from western India and the home state of PM Modi also witnessed superb growth in the national highway network. Gujrat added 3,191 km of new national highways. The total NH length surged 68% to 7,885 km in FY23 from 4,694 km in FY15.
Rajasthan: Area-wise India’s largest state, Rajasthan is in sixth place by building 3060 km of new highways. The state witnessed a 40% increase in the total length of national highways to 10,706 km in FY23 from 7646 km in FY14.
Punjab: By constructing 2,540 km of new national highways Punjab is number seven in this list. The total NH network stands at 4,239 km in FY23, up 150% from 1,699 km in FY14.
Arunachal Pradesh: This hilly northeastern state shares its border with China, which makes national highway construction strategically important for our defence forces as well. A total of 2,258 kilometers of new national highway have been built in Arunachal Pradesh. The total national highway network rose 111% to 4,285 km in FY23 from 2,027 km in FY14.
Telangana: Since FY15 after the state split from Andhra Pradesh, 2,239 km of new national highways have been constructed in Telangana. The total NH length surged 83% to 4,926 km in FY23 from 2,687 km in FY15.
Tamil Nadu: A total of 2,025 km of new national highways have been built in Tamil Nadu during the Modi government. Length of NHs increased 41% to 7,000 km in FY23 from 4,975 km in FY14.
Karnataka: The state got 1,860 km of new national highways in the last 10 years. The total network of national highways in Karnataka increased 30% to 8,037 km in FY23 from 6,177 km in FY14.
