August 5, 2024: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has sanctioned the development of eight access-controlled national highway projects spanning a total length of 936 km. These projects, with an estimated cost of Rs 50,655 crore, aim to minimise land acquisition needs by aligning as much as possible with existing brownfield sites, according to Union Information Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.
The approved projects include:
- 6-Lane Agra-Gwalior highway
- 4-Lane Kharagpur – Moregram
- 6-Lane Tharad – Deesa – Mehsana – Ahmedabad
- 4-Lane section between Pathalgaon and Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi
- 6-Lane Kanpur Ring Road
- 4-Lane Northern Guwahati Bypass and widening/improvement of the existing Guwahati Bypass
- 8-Lane Elevated Nashik Phata – Khed Corridor near Pune
- Ayodhya Ring Road Project
In Ayodhya, a 68-km, 4-lane access-controlled ring road will be developed at a cost of Rs 3,935 crore. This ring road aims to reduce congestion on National Highways such as NH 27, NH 227A, NH 227B, NH 330, NH 330A and NH 135A, facilitating faster movement of pilgrims to the Ram Mandir. It will also provide seamless connectivity for national and international tourists arriving from Lucknow International Airport, Ayodhya Airport, and major railway stations.
In Guwahati, a 121-km ring road will be developed at a cost of Rs 5,729 crore, divided into three sections: a 56-km 4-lane Northern Guwahati Bypass, widening an 8-km stretch of the existing 4-lane bypass on NH 27 to six lanes, and improving a 58-km section of the existing bypass on NH 27. Additionally, a major bridge over the Brahmaputra River will be constructed. This project aims to provide seamless connectivity for long-distance traffic on NH 27 and ease congestion on major highways, connecting cities such as Siliguri, Silchar, Shillong, Jorhat, Tezpur, Jogigopha, and Barpeta.
The government anticipates that these projects will generate approximately 4.42 crore man-days of direct and indirect employment. The length of National Highways has increased by about 1.6 times, from 0.91 lakh km in 2013-14 to 1.46 lakh km currently. Similarly, the average annual construction of National Highways has increased by about 2.4 times, from 4,000 km in 2004-14 to approximately 9,600 km in 2014-24. The total capital investment in National Highways, including private investment, has surged sixfold, from Rs 50,000 crore in 2013-14 to around Rs 3.1 lakh crore in 2023-24.
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