Centre Plans New Authority For Expressway Development, Full Detail Inside – News18

The Central Government is planning to create a new authority dedicated to the development and management of expressways, government sources told Business Today TV.

This initiative is part of the Road Transport and Highways Ministry’s 100-day plan and is currently in the discussion phase.

Currently, the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is responsible for national highways. However, the new expressway authority will specifically manage expressways, which require different construction and tolling systems. This move aims to enhance the focus on expressway infrastructure.

Under the national masterplan for 2047, India is set to expand its transportation network significantly. The plan includes building 50,000 kilometers of access-controlled expressways, ensuring that any location is within 100-125 kilometers of an expressway. Presently, India has 2,913 kilometers of such expressways.

The government expects that developing new expressways and highways will increase speeds and cut logistics costs by 3-4 percent.

In addition to new greenfield expressways, there is a strong emphasis on upgrading existing highways. Highways less than two lanes wide have reduced from 30 percent in 2014 to 10 percent in 2023, with their total length shrinking from 27,517 kilometers to 14,850 kilometers.

Highways with two lanes or more but less than four lanes now make up 58 percent, totaling 85,096 kilometers. Highways with four lanes or more have grown to 32 percent, up from 20 percent in 2014, now measuring 46,179 kilometers.

Highways are major roads designed for general traffic, including various local and arterial roads, with multiple access points and moderate speed limits. On the other hand, expressways are high-speed, controlled-access roads with limited entry and exit points, no intersections or traffic signals, and higher speed limits, built for faster long-distance travel.

The central government’s proposal for a separate expressway authority aims to meet the unique requirements of expressways and supports the broader Vision 2047 plan to enhance India’s national highway network.