Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visionary leadership has once again set the stage for transformative growth in India with a bold Rs 15 lakh crore infrastructure investment plan in the first 100 days of his third term. Under his guidance, the Indian Government has unveiled an ambitious agenda focused on bolstering infrastructure across key sectors—roads, railways, air, and maritime—aimed at driving economic growth, enhancing connectivity, and creating millions of jobs. Modi’s relentless pursuit of modernising India’s infrastructure reflects his commitment to positioning the nation as a global powerhouse.
Declarations in the Budget 2024-2025
Significant announcements have been made in relation to the infrastructure sector in the Union Budget 2024-25, presented by the Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman. The Finance Minister emphasised the Union Government’s significant investment in building and improving infrastructure over the years, which has had a strong multiplier effect on the economy. The Government will maintain strong fiscal support for infrastructure over the next five years, while balancing other priorities and fiscal consolidation. An allocation of Rs 11,11,111 crore for capital expenditure, which is 3.4 per cent of GDP, has been made this year.
Road Infrastructure
India’s road infrastructure development is set to receive a significant boost with the construction of eight high-speed corridors, covering across various regions. These projects aim to improve traffic capacity, reduce travel times, and enhance connectivity between key industrial hubs, tourist destinations, and major cities. By using modern construction methods such as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) and Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM), these corridors will facilitate efficient logistics, promote economic growth, and generate substantial employment opportunities across the country.
6-Lane Agra – Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor
The 88-km long Agra-Gwalior high-speed corridor will be developed in Build-Operate-Transfer mode, with a fully access-controlled 6-lane highway at a total cost of Rs 4,613 crore. It is designed to increase traffic capacity in the North-South Corridor, supplementing the existing 4-lane highway between Agra and Gwalior. This project will not only reduce the distance by 7 per cent but also cut travel time by 50 per cent, benefiting key tourist sites like the Taj Mahal and Gwalior Fort. The corridor will run from Deori village (Agra) to Susera village (Gwalior), passing through Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh, with enhanced road safety features and strengthened sections of NH-44.
4-Lane Kharagpur – Moregram National High-Speed Corridor
The 231-km long 4-lane Kharagpur-Moregram corridor will be built in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at a cost of Rs 10,247 crore. It will significantly enhance the existing 2-lane highway’s traffic capacity by about five times, offering efficient connectivity between states like West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh. The project will improve travel times for freight vehicles, reducing it from 9-10 hours to 3-5 hours, thus decreasing logistics costs and bolstering the flow of goods to North-East India.
6-Lane Tharad – Deesa – Mehsana – Ahmedabad National High-Speed Corridor
This 214-km long 6-lane corridor will be developed in BOT mode at a total cost of Rs 10,534 crore. Connecting two crucial National Corridors—Amritsar-Jamnagar and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway—this route will enhance seamless freight movement between industrial hubs in Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to key ports in Maharashtra. The project is set to reduce the distance between Tharad and Ahmedabad by 20 per cent and cut travel time by 60 per cent, benefiting tourist destinations like Mehrangarh Fort and Ambaji Mandir while significantly improving logistics efficiency.
4-Lane Ayodhya Ring Road
The 68-km long Ayodhya Ring Road will be built under HAM at a cost of Rs 3,935 crore. This project will ease congestion on various National Highways (NH-27, NH-330A, NH-135A, etc.) passing through Ayodhya. It will provide fast and efficient connectivity for pilgrims visiting the Rama Mandir and tourists arriving at Lucknow International Airport and Ayodhya Airport. The ring road will also enhance the movement of traffic across major railways and highways connected to Ayodhya, thereby supporting the city’s burgeoning tourism industry.
4-Lane Section between Pathalgaon and Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi NH-Speed Corridor
The 137 km long section of the Raipur-Ranchi corridor, connecting Pathalgaon to Gumla, will be constructed in HAM mode at a total cost of Rs. 4,473 crores. This project will enhance connectivity between mining areas like Gumla, Raigarh, and Dhanbad, and industrial zones in Raipur and Korba. By upgrading National Highway-43 and connecting to National Highway-130A, this project will reduce travel times and enhance freight logistics in Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, driving industrial and economic growth in these regions.
6-Lane Kanpur Ring Road
The 47-km long Kanpur Ring Road will be built in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode at a cost of Rs 3,298 crore. This 6-lane access-controlled road will complete the highway ring around Kanpur, segregating long-distance traffic from city-bound traffic on key national highways like NH-19 and NH-27. It will improve logistics efficiency, especially for freight traffic travelling between states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, and West Bengal, reducing congestion in and around Kanpur.
4-Lane Northern Guwahati Bypass and Widening/Improvement of Existing Guwahati Bypass
The 121-km Guwahati Ring Road will be developed in BOT mode at a cost of Rs. 5,729 crore. The project includes the construction of a 4-lane Northern Guwahati Bypass, the widening of an existing bypass on NH-27, and major improvements. This corridor will ease congestion on key National Highways around Guwahati and improve connectivity to major cities in the North-East. Additionally, a major bridge over the Brahmaputra will boost seamless travel across the region, supporting long-distance traffic between Siliguri, Shillong, and Tezpur.
8-Lane Elevated Nashik Phata – Khed Corridor near Pune
The 30-km elevated 8-lane corridor between Nashik Phata and Khed near Pune will be constructed in BOT mode at a cost of Rs 7,827 crore. The elevated highway will provide high-speed connectivity for industrial traffic originating from hubs like Chakan and Bhosari. Additionally, it will alleviate severe traffic congestion around Pimpri Chinchwad. The project will include a 2-lane service road on both sides and is expected to significantly enhance freight movement on NH-60 between Pune and Nashik.
Employment Generation and Economic Impact
The development of these eight high-speed corridors, spanning more than 900 km, is projected to generate 4.42 crore man-days of employment. This includes both direct and indirect employment, offering significant job opportunities in construction, maintenance, and associated industries. The reduction in travel time, improved logistics efficiency, and better connectivity between key industrial and tourism hubs are set to stimulate regional economies, reduce logistics costs, and enhance trade across state borders. These projects represent a vital step towards improving India’s overall infrastructure and economic growth trajectory.
Shinkhun La Tunnel
Shinkhun La Tunnel, which will become the world’s highest tunnel upon completion, ensuring year-round connectivity between Ladakh and Himachal Pradesh. It consists of a 4.1 km long Twin-Tube tunnel to be constructed at around 15,800 feet on the Nimu Padum Darcha Road to provide all-weather connectivity to Leh.
Railway Infrastructure
The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved eight significant railway projects under the Ministry of Railways with an estimated cost of Rs 24,657 crore. These projects are aimed at providing direct connectivity, enhancing mobility, reducing logistics costs, and lowering oil imports, all while contributing to environmental sustainability by cutting CO2 emissions. The initiatives align with the Prime Minister’s vision of a self-reliant (“Atmanirbhar”) India and aim to boost employment and self-employment opportunities in the region. Expected to be completed by the 2030-31 fiscal year, these railway developments will greatly empower the people through comprehensive regional development.
These eight projects span 14 districts across seven states—Odisha, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Telangana, and West Bengal—extending the Indian Railways’ network by 900 kilometres. In addition, 64 new stations will be constructed, improving connectivity to six Aspirational Districts and benefiting around 40 lakh people in approximately 510 villages. The enhanced rail routes are expected to facilitate the transportation of various commodities, supporting India’s economic and climate goals. The projects, under the PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan, represent integrated planning for seamless multi-modal connectivity, including linking the UNESCO World Heritage site, Ajanta Caves, to the railway network, enhancing tourism opportunities.
Metro Connectivity
Metro projects in Pune, Thane and Bengaluru worth Rs 30,700 crores to strengthen public transport and reduce travel time. The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved three major metro rail projects on August 16, 2024.
Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-3 involves two elevated corridors spanning 44.65 km with 31 stations. Corridor-1 connects JP Nagar 4th Phase to Kempapura (32.15 km), while Corridor-2 runs from Hosahalli to Kadabagere (12.50 km). Upon completion, Bengaluru will have a 220.20 km metro network. The project costs Rs. 15,611 crore.
Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project will cover 29 km along Thane’s west side with 22 stations. The project aims to reduce traffic and greenhouse gas emissions, with an estimated completion by 2029. Its cost is Rs. 12,200.10 crore, shared by the central and state governments, with additional funding from bilateral agencies. Daily ridership projections for 2029, 2035, and 2045 are 6.47 lakh, 7.61 lakh, and 8.72 lakh passengers, respectively.
Pune Metro Phase-I extension, Swargate to Katraj, is a 5.46 km underground line with three stations, slated for completion by 2029 at a cost of Rs. 2954.53 crore. This line will ease traffic, connect key areas like Market Yard and Balaji Nagar, and integrate with the Swargate Multimodal Hub. The expected daily ridership for 2027 is 95,000, growing to 1.97 lakh by 2057.
Air Connectivity
The Indian Government has approved several key initiatives aimed at improving air connectivity across the nation. These developments focus on expanding existing airports and constructing new terminals and airfields to handle increasing passenger traffic while incorporating sustainability features. This move is not only set to boost economic growth, tourism, and regional connectivity but will also provide strategic advantages in critical regions like Lakshadweep.
Development of Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport, Varanasi
The Union Cabinet has sanctioned the expansion and modernisation of the Lal Bahadur Shastri International Airport in Varanasi with an investment of Rs 2869.65 crore. The project includes the construction of a new terminal building with a capacity of 6 million passengers per annum (MPPA), an apron extension, a runway extension, and a parallel taxi track. With this development, the airport will be capable of handling 9.9 MPPA from its current 3.9 MPPA. Additionally, the airport will become a green airport by optimizing energy, recycling waste, reducing carbon emissions, and integrating renewable energy.
Civil Enclave Development at Bagdogra Airport
Bagdogra Airport is set for a significant upgrade with the development of a new civil enclave, funded with an investment of Rs 1549 crore. The new terminal, covering an area of 70,390 square meters, will be able to accommodate 3,000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP) and an annual capacity of 10 million passengers. This project will also involve the construction of an apron with 10 aircraft parking bays, two link taxiways, and a multi-level car parking facility. Emphasising sustainability, the terminal will incorporate renewable energy and maximize natural light to reduce environmental impact.
New Civil Enclave at Bihta Airport
To ease the congestion at Patna Airport, the government has approved the construction of a new civil enclave at Bihta Airport with a budget of Rs 1413 crore. This new terminal, spanning 66,000 square meters, will initially handle 3,000 Peak Hour Passengers (PHP) and 5 million passengers annually, with room for future expansion to 10 million passengers. In addition to the terminal, the project includes an apron with parking for 10 A-321/B-737-800/A-320 aircraft and two link taxiways, enhancing both civilian and military air operations in the region.
Ports, Shipping and Waterways Foundation stone laid for Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra
The foundation stone for Vadhavan Port in Maharashtra has been laid by the Prime Minister, marking the start of a Rs 76,000 crore project that aims to become one of the world’s top 10 ports. Located near Dahanu in Palghar district, this deep-water port will serve as a critical maritime gateway, significantly enhancing India’s trade and economic growth. It will cater to large container vessels, feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, and provide direct connectivity to international shipping routes, reducing transit times and costs. By incorporating sustainable development practices, the port will minimize environmental impact and adhere to strict ecological standards. In addition to improving India’s maritime connectivity, the port will boost employment, stimulate local businesses, and contribute to regional economic development while promoting the Make in India initiative and fostering innovation in the maritime sector.
Island Connectivity: Agatti and Minicoy Airfields
As part of its commitment to developing the Lakshadweep islands, the Indian Government has announced plans to expand the Agatti airfield and construct a new airfield at Minicoy. These strategic locations will serve both civil and military purposes, enhancing the country’s logistical and operational capabilities in the Indian Ocean. These developments are also expected to boost tourism, offering better connectivity with the mainland, and contribute to the local economy.
Through these strategic infrastructure initiatives, the Modi Government is laying the groundwork for a stronger, more connected India. With projects that emphasise sustainability, innovation, and regional development, the country is poised to achieve unprecedented economic progress. This dynamic push for infrastructure underscores Narendra Modi’s leadership in driving India’s growth story forward, ensuring a brighter future for generations to come.
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