How many kilometres of National Highway length were planned for development under Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana, as per the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways?

The correct answer is 34,800 km.

Key Points

• Bharatmala Pariyojana is a flagship program initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways to enhance road infrastructure across India.
• Under Phase-I of Bharatmala Pariyojana, the government planned the development of 34,800 km of National Highway length.
• Phase-I covers critical aspects such as economic corridors, inter-corridor routes, feeder roads, national corridors, border roads, and coastal roads.
• With a total outlay of ₹5.35 lakh crore, Phase-I aims to improve connectivity to industrial hubs, rural areas, and ports.
• The Bharatmala Pariyojana is expected to significantly boost economic activities by reducing logistics costs and improving transportation efficiency.

Additional Information

• Bharatmala Pariyojana: It is a centrally sponsored road and highways development project launched in October 2017.
• Economic Corridors: These are routes designed to connect key industrial and agricultural zones for faster movement of goods.
• Feeder Roads: Smaller roads that connect rural or remote areas to major highways, ensuring last-mile connectivity.
• Logistics Efficiency Enhancement: Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to reduce India’s logistics cost from 14% of GDP to 9% by improving road networks.
• Border and Coastal Roads: These roads are planned to enhance connectivity in strategically important border and coastal regions, aiding defense and trade operations.