Real TRUTH Of Nitin Gadkari's Road Infrastructure Progress - 2003 VS 2023 Case study | Mint Explain

Summary

India's infrastructure has seen significant growth under Minister Nitin Gadkari, with national highways doubling and expressways increasing from zero to 56. Vehicle registrations have quadrupled, and road deaths have decreased. Major projects like the Golden Quadrilateral, Bharatmala Pariyojana, and Sagarmala aim to enhance connectivity. The government targets 25,000 km of new highways annually by 2025, with a focus on reducing road accidents. Despite progress, achieving U.S.-level infrastructure by 2024 remains a challenge.

Takeaways

• 🚧 Nitin Gadkari, the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, has set ambitious goals for India's road infrastructure, aiming for American-like roads by December 2024.
• 🛣️ India's national highways have more than doubled in length from 60,677 kilometers in 2003 to 1,40,679 kilometers by 2023.
• 🚗 The number of vehicles registered in India has increased significantly from 100 million in 2003 to 400 million.
• 📉 Road fatalities have decreased from 15 per 1 lakh people in 2000-03 to 12 per 1 lakh people.
• ⚓️ The Golden Quadrilateral project launched in 2003 aimed to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, and was completed in 2012.
• 🌐 The Bharatmala Pariyojana, initiated in 2017, aims to connect 550 districts with a highway network, covering 83,677 kilometers at a cost of around ₹5.35 lakh crore.
• 🚢 The Sagarmala program, launched in 2015, seeks to modernize ports and connect them to the hinterland through highways, railways, and inland waterways, with an expected cost of ₹8 lakh crore.
• 🏙️ The Smart Cities Mission has led to investments in modernizing road infrastructure with smart technologies for traffic management and other functions.
• 🛤️ The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has improved road connectivity in rural areas, increasing paved rural roads from 20% in 2003 to over 50% in 2023.
• 🚀 Several upcoming projects, including the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway and the Char Dham Mahamarg, are expected to further boost India's road infrastructure and connectivity.

Q & A

Who is Nitin Gadkari and what is his role in India's infrastructure?

Nitin Gadkari is the Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways in India. He has set aggressive goals for road infrastructure construction and has claimed that Indian roads will be on par with those in America by December 2024.

What was the total length of India's national highways in 2003 and how has it changed by 2023?

In 2003, the total length of India's national highways was 60,677 kilometers, which more than doubled by 2023, reaching 1,40,679 kilometers.

How has India's expressway network evolved from 2003 to 2023?

India's expressway network grew from zero in 2003 to 56 by 2023. The first expressway, the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway, was completed in 2001.

What was the impact of the Golden Quadrilateral project launched in 2003 on India's highways?

The Golden Quadrilateral project, launched in 2003, aimed to connect the four major cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata with a network of highways. The 5,846-kilometer project was completed in 2012.

What is the Bharatmala Pariyojana and what are its objectives?

Bharatmala Pariyojana, launched in 2017, is a project with the goal of connecting 550 districts across India via a highway network. It is expected to cover 83,677 kilometers and cost around ₹5.35 lakh crore.

What is the Sagar Mala program and what does it aim to achieve?

The Sagar Mala program, launched in 2015, aims to modernize India's ports and connect them to the hinterland via a network of highways, railways, and inland waterways. The project is expected to cost around ₹8 lakh crore and cover 14,500 kilometers.

How has the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana improved road connectivity in rural areas?

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana has significantly improved road connectivity in remote and rural areas. In 2003, only about 20% of India's rural roads were paved, which rose to more than 50% by 2023.

What are some of the major road infrastructure projects expected to benefit India in the near future?

Some major road infrastructure projects expected to benefit India include the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Char Dham Mahamarg, and Bharatmala Phase 2. These projects aim to improve connectivity, reduce travel time, and support economic corridors.

What are the projected statistics for India's road infrastructure by 2025?

By 2025, the Indian government intends to build 25,000 kilometers of new highways and expressways per year, have 100 expressways, and expect the total length of rural roads to reach 40 lakh kilometers.

What is the expected reduction in road accident rates in India by 2025?

The road accident rate in India is expected to fall to nine deaths per 1 lakh people by 2025.

How has the vehicle registration in India changed from 2003 to 2023?

India's vehicle registrations have risen from 100 million in 2003 to 400 million by 2023.