On similar lines, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) is developing a master plan for the national highways under Vision 2047. Due to the backlogs in the projects in progress, awarding of fresh projects has slowed down considerably since November last year.
The Bharatmala project entails a total length of 34,800 km in 31 states and union territories covering 550+ Districts. The length awarded is 26,425 km and the length constructed is 17,411 km so far. The program is expected to be completed by 2027-28 as against the earlier deadline of 2022, the MoRTH said in its annual report.
Initially the cost of the project was estimated at Rs 6.92 trillion which included private funding to the tune of Rs 1.06 trillion. Between 2017-18 and 2023-24 the total budgetary support has been Rs 8.37 trillion. Private sector has invested Rs 1.47 trillion. The key reasons for cost escalation are the higher prices paid for land and higher cost of construction.
