The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has built 8,600 km of national highways by the third week of March against a target of 10,000 km for the current financial year 2025-26, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.
The figures indicate a slowdown in highway construction, with the average pace falling to 23.74 kilometers per day, compared to 29.21 kilometers per day in 2024-2025 and 33.83 kilometers per day in 2023-2024. The highest expansion was recorded in 2020-21, when 13,327 km of national highways were built, equivalent to 33.83 km per day.
The data was shared by Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari while responding to a question from YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Golla Babu Rao.
On the same day, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which operates under the ministry, said it had exceeded its construction target for the financial year. In a statement, NHAI said it has built 5,313 km of national highways, about 15% higher than the target of 4,640 km.
The authority also said that its capital expenditures amounted to $2,44,362 crore, which is about 2.5% higher than the government’s budget support of Rs 2,44,362 crore. $2,38,384 crore for the year, adding that the additional expenditure was met through its own resources.
NHAI is the nodal agency responsible for development, maintenance and management of national highways across the country. In addition to NHAI, the ministry-owned National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited undertakes construction work in the border areas, hilly areas and the north-east, while some stretches of highways are also being built by central agencies such as the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) and state public works departments.
