India's Road Network Now Second Largest After US, Grew 59% In 9 Years, Says Nitin Gadkari
The Road, Transport, and Highways Minister said that India's road network currently stands at 1,45,240 km compared to 91,287 km in 2013-14.
New Delhi: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday said that India's road network grew by 59 per cent in the last nine years to become the second-largest road network in the world after the US.
The Road, Transport, and Highways Minister said that India's road network currently stands at 1,45,240 km compared to 91,287 km in 2013-14.
While addressing a conference on '9 years achievements of government' in the national capital, Gadkari said that in the last nine years, India made seven world records in the sector. "India's road network is the second largest in the world after the US," he stated.
The minister further informed that the revenues from tolls rose to Rs 4,1342 crore from Rs 4,770 crore in 2013-14. The government aims to increase the toll revenue to Rs 1,30,000 crore by 2020, Gadkari said.
The usage of fastags has helped in reducing the waiting time at the toll plazas to 47 seconds. He said, "In 2014, the waiting time at the toll plazas was 734 seconds, whereas in the 2023 this has reduced to 47 seconds. We are hopeful that we will bring it down to 30 second soon,” he said.
The government is taking various measures to reduce it further to below 30 seconds, he further stated.
"This breakthrough has saved approximately Rs 70,000 crore in wasted fuel expenses caused by waiting at the toll plazas," he added.
He stated that special emphasis is being laid on the expansion of the road highway network in the North East region, with projects worth more than Rs 2 lakh crore being carried out in the region.
He also said that 670 roadside facilities are being developed with a view to provide a pleasant experience along the National Highways.
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