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India is preparing a major expansion of highway infrastructure along its international borders, with plans to build more than 5,000 km of roads over the next three to five years at an estimated investment of over INR 2 trillion. The proposed programme is expected to cover strategic stretches bordering China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar, with the dual objective of improving military mobility and opening remote regions to trade, tourism and investment. The initiative builds on ongoing border connectivity work by the Border Roads Organisation and other agencies across frontier states and Union territories.
India is preparing a major push to expand highway connectivity along its international borders, with plans to develop more than 5,000 km of border highways over the next three to five years at an estimated investment of over INR 2 trillion. The proposed programme is aimed at improving military mobility while also opening remote frontier regions to trade, tourism and investment.
According to people familiar with the proposal cited by Mint, the planned network is expected to focus on strategic stretches along India’s borders with China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Myanmar. The expansion is intended to complement highway projects already being developed across border states and Union territories.
The infrastructure push comes as the government seeks to address connectivity gaps in frontier areas. Better road links are expected to allow faster movement of troops, equipment and supplies, while improving civilian access to markets, healthcare and education in remote districts.
The proposed expansion builds on substantial work already undertaken by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which is responsible for constructing and maintaining strategic roads, bridges, tunnels and airfields in difficult and inaccessible regions. According to the Ministry of Defence, BRO has constructed more than 64,100 km of roads, along with 1,179 bridges, seven tunnels and 22 airfields since its establishment in 1960.
The official PIB backgrounder states that around 4,595 km of roads in forward areas were constructed between FY2020-21 and FY2024-25, supported by approximately INR 23,625 crore allocated to BRO for General Staff roads during the five-year period. Around 769 km of road construction was completed in FY2024-25 alone.
The government has also continued increasing financial support for border infrastructure. BRO’s allocation rose from INR 6,500 crore in the Union Budget 2024-25 to INR 7,146 crore in 2025-26, while its expenditure during FY2024-25 reached a record INR 16,690 crore. An expenditure target of INR 17,900 crore was set for FY2025-26.
The new highway programme would therefore represent a significant expansion of existing strategic connectivity efforts. Border roads have increasingly been planned not only as military logistics routes but also as infrastructure capable of supporting economic activity in areas that have historically remained difficult to access.
The economic potential is particularly relevant for the Northeast and other underserved frontier regions. Improved all-weather connectivity could strengthen tourism, local businesses, logistics and supply chains while making remote settlements more accessible to essential services.
However, financing the proposed network could present a challenge because several strategic stretches may have relatively low commercial traffic. Conventional toll-based models may therefore not be suitable for every corridor. Alternative approaches, including government-funded construction through Engineering, Procurement and Construction or Hybrid Annuity Model structures, could be considered for strategically important sections.
The proposed 5,000-km expansion is thus expected to combine national security requirements with broader regional development objectives. If implemented, the programme would add to the network of roads, bridges and tunnels being developed across India’s frontier regions and could improve both strategic mobility and civilian connectivity.
Source- PIB
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