The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has outlined an ambitious 100-day action plan which would be following the recent elections. Key priorities in the plan include awarding over 3,000 km of new highway projects, constructing 1,700 km of roads, and implementing initiatives to enhance safety. The ministry is awaiting Cabinet approval for its proposed INR 20 trillion funding proposal to allow projects to progress. Other goals are operationalizing roadside amenities, launching alternative fuel vehicles, rectifying 'blackspots' and providing cashless treatment for accident victims. This comes as road accidents continue rising in India, with over 460,000 reported in 2022 alone. The ministry hopes its 100-day agenda, if implemented successfully, can boost highway development and improve safety.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has outlined several action points in its 100-day plan for the new government following the Lok Sabha elections. A senior government official said that some of the key plans include operationalizing 700 km of high-speed corridors, awarding 3,000 km of highway projects, and implementing a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims.
MoRTH informed the Union Cabinet in its monthly report that it had deliberated on these 100-day programs as well as longer term plans under 'Viksit Bharat' in consultation with relevant agencies and stakeholders. The ministry is awaiting Cabinet approval for a large INR 20 trillion proposal to sanction highway works aligned with the government's Vision 2047 roadmap.
The official mentioned that getting Cabinet approval for project funding is a top priority, as it will allow MoRTH to award necessary projects and ensure the pace of highway development is maintained. The target is to construct over 1,700 km of highways and award over 3,000 km of projects in the first three months after elections.
Last financial year, MoRTH could only award 8,581 km against a target of 13,290 km mainly due to delays in revising estimates for the flagship Bharatmala program, whose costs have doubled since inception.
Other plans for the next 100 days include operationalizing 50 wayside amenities, launching a hydrogen fuel cell vehicle, and rolling out a cashless treatment scheme for road accident victims. Moreover, the ministry will also look to rectify 'blackspots' (a place where road traffic collisions have historically been concentrated) on national highways.
Despite record investments in road infrastructure, road accidents continue to be on an alarming rise in India, with over 460,000 accidents taking place in 2022, killing 168,491 - the highest since 2005. According to the ministry's annual road accidents report for 2022, a total of 461,312 road accidents were reported by states and Union Territories during the calendar year 2022, which caused injuries to 443,366.
If successfully executed, the ministry's 100-day agenda has the potential to significantly boost highway infrastructure expansion and improve safety on Indian roads.
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