By 2024, the road network in country will be equal to that of America

Utkarsh Classes Last Updated 12-02-2024

By 2024, the road network in country will be equal to that of America

Transport 4 min read

Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari informed on 9 February 2024 that by 2024 our national highway road network will be equal to the road network of the United States of America.

Union Minister Gadkari said this in his address at the ET Now Global Business Summit 2024. In which he outlined the vision to revolutionize India's infrastructure landscape.

Strong infrastructure is necessary to attract investment in country:

Gadkari stressed the important role of strong infrastructure in driving economic growth and development across various sectors.
Gadkari said in his address that 'If we want capital investment, development in industry, then we should have good infrastructure. For this, it is necessary to have easy and accessible availability of water, electricity, transport and communication.
Infrastructure vital for agriculture, services, and tourism development.
Gadkari mentioned the ambitious plan to expand the national highway road network. It aims to be equal in scale to the road network in the United States by the end of 2024.
India's national highway network is expected to match the USA’s by the end of 2024.

Delhi-Chennai distance to decrease by 320 km:

Highlighting specific projects, he announced plans to reduce the distance between Delhi and Chennai by 320 km.
To go from Delhi to Chennai you do not need to go to Mumbai and Pune.

Improved roads necessary to make India the third largest economy:

Currently, India is the fastest growing economy in the world. The Indian economy has to be made the third largest economy in the world.
For this we need to develop world standard infrastructure.

Emphasis on sustainable practices in energy production:

Gadkari highlights innovative initiatives for sustainable energy practices.
Elaborated on efforts to produce biofuel from agricultural residues such as rice straw.

Sustainable aviation fuel facility at Panipat by Indian Oil:

Highlighted the setting up of a facility in Panipat in collaboration with Indian Oil for the production of sustainable aviation fuel from rice straw.
Presently bitumen is being made from rice straw.
Sustainable aviation fuel has already started a project in Panipat with Indian Oil and they are using straw (rice husk) with a capacity of 1 lakh liter ethanol, 150 tonne per day.

Length of total National Highway road network in India at present:

The country has a road network of approximately 63,31,791 km as on 31 March 2019, which is the 2nd largest road network in the world.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways oversees national highways development.
The national highway network in the country has increased from approximately 91,287 km in March, 2014 to approximately 1,46,145 km at present (December 2023).