India’s Highways Set to Rival U.S. Quality in Two Years

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has boldly declared that India’s road network will match, and possibly exceed, U.S. standards within just two years. He emphasized that India is moving beyond superficial improvements—into a phase of wholesale transformation underpinned by strategic investments and large-scale projects.

According to Nitin Gadkari, with better road infrastructure, the logistics cost has now been brought down to 9 per cent. | File Photo | Business Standard

From Cosmetic Upgrades to Structural Overhaul

Minister Gadkari conveyed that the “facelift” stage of infrastructure development is complete, and the real revolution is underway. In his words: “The question is not about the facelift, it has already changed… In another two years, you will be able to see that Indian road infrastructure will be similar to that of America”. He also referenced feedback from American experts, some of whom have reportedly said that “our infrastructure is better than America”. Such statements underscore the confidence driving India’s infrastructural vision.

Logistics Cost Revolution

One of the most striking developments is the dramatic reduction in logistics costs, a key indicator of infrastructure efficiency. India’s ratio of freight expenses to GDP, which once stood at around 16%, has now dropped to just 9%—a figure comparable to China’s and superior to the U.S. and Europe, where it hovers near 12%. Gadkari emphasized that these savings directly enhance India’s export competitiveness, benefiting agriculture, manufacturing, and services. Sustaining logistics costs within single digits is now a target for 2025–26.

Mega Projects Driving Transformation

India’s infrastructure leap is being fueled by multiple landmark initiatives. First, a network of twenty-five new greenfield expressways is under development, offering high-speed, seamless connectivity for the 21st century. Complementing this is the construction of a 3,000 km port-connectivity highway system designed to expedite the movement of goods between industrial centers and the country’s busy ports.

Gadkari has also announced a monumental ₹1 lakh crore investment to enhance roads on religious and tourist circuits such as the Char Dham and Buddhist trails, ensuring year-round accessibility. In Jammu and Kashmir, thirty-six tunnels are being built—twenty-three completed and several more under construction—while fifteen ropeways are coming up through the Parvatmala project, transforming connectivity in mountainous regions. Finally, thirty-five multimodal logistics parks are being developed to integrate road, rail, and warehousing facilities . Additionally, the government plans to upgrade 30,000 km of two-lane highways into four-lane roads, backed by a ₹10 lakh crore investment.

Reductions in Travel Time Across Regions

Faster highways translate into much shorter travel times between major cities. For instance, the Delhi–Dehradun corridor is expected to shrink to just two hours, Delhi–Amritsar to around three and a half hours, Delhi–Katra to six hours, and Delhi–Srinagar to eight hours . The ongoing Bharatmala project, along with expressways such as Varanasi–Kolkata, Amritsar–Jamnagar, Bengaluru–Chennai, and Delhi–Mumbai, are all contributing to this acceleration.

Unified Coordination via PM Gati Shakti

All these diverse projects are unified under the government’s flagship “PM Gati Shakti” National Master Plan. This framework encourages cross-ministerial collaboration—aligning roads, rail, ports, and logistics infrastructure. The initiative has earned praise from industry bodies such as the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), thanks to its role in reducing bureaucratic delays and smoothing execution .

Spotlight on Key State Projects

Beyond national programmes, several state-specific schemes offer tangible proof of progress. In Delhi–NCR, a ₹3,500 crore, 5 km tunnel from Shiv Murti to Nelson Mandela Road will soon link South Delhi with Dwarka and Gurgaon via an uninterrupted corridor. Maharashtra’s Samruddhi Expressway has been extended to the Vadhvan port, cutting travel time from 18 to eight hours and featuring eco-friendly tunneling and solar infrastructure support. Meanwhile, the Pune–Mumbai Expressway is being transformed into a 10‑lane “superhighway” at a projected cost of ₹14,260 crore, geared to accommodate soaring vehicular traffic .

Conclusion

India is entering a new era of infrastructure excellence. With logistics expenses drastically reduced, high-speed corridors under construction, and intermodal freight setups gaining traction, the country is making rapid strides toward U.S.-level road standards. This ambitious transformation promises sweeping economic benefits—through improved connectivity, enhanced export competitiveness, and smarter travel across the country. If current timelines hold, within two years, India’s roads may no longer just rival—they may redefine global expectations.

(Sources: Business Standard, NDTV, TOI)