Year End Review 2025 – Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

India has the world’s second-largest road network, with National Highways spanning 1,46,560 km, forming the country’s primary arterial network.

The Government strengthens the National Highways network through flagship programmes such as Bharatmala Pariyojana (including the subsumed NHDP), SARDP-NE, LWE Road Development Programme (including the Vijayawada–Ranchi Road), and Externally Aided Projects (EAP). The National Highway network records a growth of about 61%, expanding from 91,287 km in 2014 to 1,46,560 km at present. The length of operational access-controlled High-Speed Corridors/Expressways increases from 93 km in 2014 to 3,052 km, registering a growth of about 3,180%. The length of 4-lane and above National Highways, including access-controlled corridors, more than doubles from 18,371 km in 2014 to 43,512 km at present. MoRTH cumulatively monetizes ₹1,52,028 crore through various modes of asset monetization till November 2025 and targets ₹30,000 crore during FY 2025-26. To enhance private participation, Model Concession Agreements (MCAs) are updated: BOT is revamped for the first time since 2007-08; IMC is completed and under finalization; HAM MCA is being finalized; EPC follows post-HAM. To widen the investment base, MoRTH plans to introduce the Public InvIT – Raajmarg InvIT. SEBI clearance is under process, with issuance targeted for January 2026. In line with Union Budget 2025-26, MoRTH identifies a PPP project pipeline of 13,400 km, with an estimated cost of ₹8.3 lakh crore, to be developed over the next three years. A network of 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks is planned under Bharatmala Pariyojana with an investment of about ₹46,000 crore, capable of handling around 700 million metric tonnes of cargo once operational. To improve user comfort and convenience, the Ministry plans state-of-the-art Wayside Amenities (WSAs) at intervals of 40–60 km along National Highways on PPP mode. Under Parvatmala Pariyojana, the Ministry envisages development of safe, economical, efficient and world-class ropeway infrastructure to improve connectivity, decongest urban areas and enhance last-mile logistics efficiency in hilly regions. The Prime Minister inaugurates the 12-km-long Sonamarg Tunnel in Jammu & Kashmir, constructed at a cost of over ₹2,700 crore, and inaugurates and lays foundation stones for multiple road projects at Katra, including the Rafiabad–Kupwara NH widening project worth over ₹1,952 crore. Landmark Urban Decongestion Projects Including Dwarka Expressway and UER-II Inaugurated in Delhi The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways flag off the first-ever trials of hydrogen-powered heavy-duty trucks, launched by Tata Motors in New Delhi. The Cashless Treatment of Road Accident Victims Scheme, 2025 is notified on a pan-India basis, providing treatment cover of up to ₹1.5 lakh per victim at designated hospitals across the country. The Ministry strengthens vehicle safety standards through mandatory High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) and advances provisions related to Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) in new vehicles. MoRTH operationalizes 123 Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities across 21 States/UTs and 160 Automated Testing Stations across 19 States/UTs; cumulatively 3.58 lakh vehicles are scrapped till November 2025. Under the Rah-Veer Scheme, the financial incentive for Good Samaritans increases from ₹5,000 to ₹25,000 per incident, with 10 national-level awards of ₹1 lakh each instituted annually. The BhoomiRashi Portal enables end-to-end digitization of highway land acquisition with PFMS-linked direct compensation, strengthening efficiency and transparency. The Ministry introduces a FASTag-based Annual Pass for non-commercial vehicles at ₹3,000 for 200 fee plaza crossings; 36.13 lakh passes are sold, generating ₹1,084 crore in user fee collection till November 2025. The Government decides to implement barrier-free Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) using Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras on selected National Highway stretches, enabling seamless tolling alongside FASTag. NHAI Receives Gold Award for Successful Implementation of Drone Analytics Monitoring System (DAMS) in National Highways Maintenance by DARPG 1. NATIONAL HIGHWAYS: CONSTRUCTION & ACHIEVEMENTS 1.1 Road Network in the Country: India has the second largest road network in the world and its National Highways span a total length of 1,46,560 km, forming the primary arterial network of the country. The Government of India has undertaken several initiatives to enhance and strengthen the National Highways network through flagship programmes such as the Bharatmala Pariyojana which includes the subsumed National Highway Development Project (NHDP), the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for the North-East Region (SARDP-NE), the Special Programme for the development of roads in Left Wing Extremism-affected Areas (LWE), including the development of the Vijayawada-Ranchi Road, and Externally Aided Projects (EAP). The National Highway (NH) network has grown around 61%, rising from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,560 km currently. The length of operational access-controlled National High Speed Corridors (HSCs) / Expressways has increased from 93 km in 2014 to 3,052 km at present — an increase of about 3,180%. The length of 4-lane and above National Highways (including Access controlled HSCs / Expressways) has more than doubled, expanding from 18,371 km in 2014 to 43,512 km at present. 1.3 Award and Construction of National Highways 1.4 Bharatmala Pariyojana (including Subsumed National Highways Development Project (NHDP)) The Public Investment Board (PIB) recommended the proposal during its meeting held on 16thJune, 2017. Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) approved the Bharatmala Phase-I in October, 2017. The status of various components of Bharatmala Pariyojana as on 30thNovember, 2025 is as under: National Corridor Efficiency Improvement National Corridor Efficiency Improvement Border Roads & International Connectivity Roads Border Roads & International Connectivity Roads Mode wise status of works awarded under Bharatmala Pariyojana is as under: 1.5 Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North-East Region (SARDP-NE) The status of works taken up under SARDP-NE as on November, 2025 is as under: 1.6 Left Wing Extremism affected Area (LWE) including Development of Vijayawada-Ranchi Road The status of works taken up under LWE, including Development of Vijayawada-Ranchi Road, as on 30thNovember 2025 is as under: 1.7 Externally Aided Projects (EAP) The status of works taken up under EAP [with loan assistance from World Bank / Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) / Asian Development Bank (ADB)] as on November, 2025 is as under: The NHs which are not covered under any schemes are prioritised for development in a phased manner based on the traffic requirement under National Highway (Original) works with project based appraisal / approvals undertaken within available budget. At present, works in about 28,000 km NH length costing about Rs. 7.70 lakh crore are under implementation in the country. 1.9 Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of NH Network MoRTH is focusing on both development and maintenance of NHs to ensure their traffic worthiness. The M&R of stretches of NHs, where development works have commenced or Operation, Maintenance and Transfer (OMT) Concessions/ Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Contracts have been awarded, are the responsibility of the concerned Concessionaires/ Contractors till the end of the Defect Liability Period (DLP)/ the Concession Period. Similarly, for NHs stretches undertaken under TOT (Toll Operate and Transfer) and InvIT (Infrastructure Investment Trust), M&R responsibility lies with concerned Concessionaire till the end of the Concession Period. No separate maintenance expenditure is incurred in respect of these NHs stretches. For all remaining section