By Vansh Aggarwal

Abstract

Bharatmala Pariyojana, which translates  to the Garland of India, is an ambitious highway development initiative launched by the government of India to modernize and expand the country’s road infrastructure. Envisioning the construction of approximately 34,800 kilometres of roadways, the project aims to optimize the movement of freight and passengers, reduce logistics costs, and enhance connectivity across the nation. It is designed to plug gaps in the existing National Highway network by integrating economic corridors, expressways, and border roads to facilitate economic growth and regional development. With an estimated investment of ₹4.72 lakh crore, the Bharatmala project is expected to revolutionize road transportation in India, aligning with other infrastructure initiatives such as Sagarmala (port-led connectivity) and Make in India (industrial growth). This article explores the key objectives, historical context, current status, and significance of Bharatmala Pariyojana, along with an analysis of its economic and geopolitical impact.

Concept and Objectives

The project is structured around six major components that collectively aim to create a more integrated and efficient transportation network, thereby reducing logistics costs and fostering economic development. Economic corridors are being developed to facilitate seamless trade and commerce by linking major industrial, agricultural, and commercial hubs. These corridors will improve supply chain efficiency, reduce travel time, and lower logistics costs. The initiative includes corridors like the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), Amritsar-Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), and Bengaluru-Chennai Corridor, all of which are designed to stimulate industrial growth and economic expansion. To enhance the effectiveness of the existing National Highway network, Bharatmala aims to develop inter-corridors and feeder routes, ensuring better connectivity between economic corridors and regional trade centers. These routes will improve last-mile connectivity, reduce bottlenecks in freight movement, and provide faster access to key production zones.

Bharatmala aims to construct 800 kilometers of high-speed expressways, significantly reducing travel time between major urban centers. These expressways are being built using advanced engineering techniques, ensuring world-class infrastructure and better road safety standards. The improvements include road widening, construction of flyovers, bypasses, and intelligent traffic management systems. Given India’s geopolitical concerns, Bharatmala places significant emphasis on border infrastructure, constructing 2,000 kilometres of strategic roads to improve connectivity with neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar. This component not only boosts trade but also strengthens defense logistics, ensuring rapid troop mobility along critical border regions in Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan. In alignment with the Sagarmala initiative, this component focuses on enhancing connectivity between ports and industrial clusters. Improved road networks will facilitate faster movement of goods, reducing turnaround time at ports. This is particularly vital for major ports like Mumbai, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Paradip, where efficient road access is crucial for international trade competitiveness.

Historical Context

Before the introduction of Bharatmala Pariyojana, India’s highway development efforts were largely centered around the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), which was launched in 1998 under the leadership of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The project was executed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and was divided into multiple phases. The two most significant components of the NHDP were the Golden Quadrilateral and North-South and East-West (NS-EW) Corridors. The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) project aimed to connect four major metropolitan cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata—through a 5,846-kilometer network of high-quality highways. It was designed to enhance industrial connectivity and reduce travel time for freight and passenger transport across India’s economic hubs. The project, completed in January 2012, significantly boosted trade and economic growth in these regions. The North-South Corridor connected Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), while the East-West Corridor linked Silchar (Assam) to Porbandar (Gujarat). The total length of these corridors was 7,142 kilometers, to strengthen connectivity between the northern, southern, eastern, and western parts of the country.

Despite its successes, the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) encountered several obstacles that hindered its full potential. Land acquisition delays emerged as a major challenge, as the process of securing private and agricultural land for highway expansion often led to legal disputes and resistance from local communities. These delays, coupled with rising construction costs, resulted in significant cost overruns, making many projects financially unsustainable. Additionally, bureaucratic inefficiencies, including slow decision-making and excessive red tape, further impeded the timely execution of projects. Another critical issue was the uneven development of highway infrastructure, where major metropolitan regions saw substantial benefits while northeastern and remote areas remained neglected, leading to an imbalance in connectivity and economic growth. Recognizing these challenges, the Government of India launched Bharatmala Pariyojana in 2017 to subsume the ongoing NHDP projects and take a more strategic, corridor-based approach to highway development. Unlike NHDP, which focused on individual highways, Bharatmala emphasized the creation of an integrated road network, prioritizing economic corridors, border roads, coastal connectivity, and feeder routes.

Current Status

Since its inception in 2017, the Bharatmala Pariyojana has made significant strides in expanding India’s highway network. Implemented in multiple phases, Phase I is the most extensive, covering 34,800 kilometers of road development. As of October 31, 2024, notable progress has been achieved, with 26,425 kilometers awarded and 18,714 kilometers constructed. However, progress has varied across different states, with some achieving higher completion rates than others. For instance, Rajasthan has seen 2,360 kilometers awarded and 2,241 kilometers constructed, while Uttar Pradesh has 2,496 kilometers awarded and 1,854 kilometers completed. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has incurred a total expenditure of ₹4.72 lakh crore on the project as of November 30, 2024.

Under Phase I, several key developments have shaped the project’s impact. The Economic Corridors initiative has facilitated the construction of 9,000 kilometres of highways to connect major industrial hubs, logistics centers, and agricultural markets. To bolster international trade and security, nearly 2,000 kilometres of border roads have been developed, improving connectivity with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh while also enhancing defense mobilization. Additionally, 2,000 kilometers of coastal and port connectivity roads have been constructed to link major ports with hinterland markets, strengthening India’s Sagarmala initiative for port-led economic growth. The project has also advanced high-speed travel, with 800 kilometers of expressways completed, including the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which significantly reduces travel time between India’s two largest cities.

Significance in Indian Infrastructure

The Bharatmala Pariyojana is a game-changing initiative that aims to transform India’s road infrastructure by improving connectivity, boosting economic growth, and enhancing logistical efficiency. One of the key objectives of the project is to ensure the seamless movement of goods and people across the country by expanding the four-lane highway network from 300 districts to 550 districts (MoRTH, Government of India). This expansion will bridge regional disparities, ensuring that remote areas are better integrated with urban centers, thereby fostering industrial and commercial development across the nation.

From an economic perspective, the project is expected to significantly reduce transportation costs and enhance supply chain efficiency. A well-connected road network allows faster delivery of goods, minimizes delays, and reduces fuel consumption, all of which contribute to lower logistics costs. According to estimates, logistics costs in India account for nearly 13-14% of the GDP, significantly higher than in developed countries, where the figure stands at 8-9%. The Bharatmala initiative seeks to address this gap by improving freight corridors and reducing bottlenecks. Additionally, the construction of 35 Multimodal Logistics Parks under the project will provide integrated freight-handling facilities to optimize goods transportation across different modes such as road, rail, and air (MoRTH).

Geopolitical Implications

Apart from its infrastructural and economic impact, Bharatmala Pariyojana has major geopolitical ramifications, especially in terms of border security, trade relations, and strategic regional influence. The border road projects under Bharatmala aim to strengthen India’s defense preparedness by ensuring better road connectivity in sensitive areas near China and Pakistan. The enhanced road network allows for the rapid mobilization of defense forces, facilitating a quicker response to potential threats along India’s frontiers (Economic Times). The project also enhances India’s trade connectivity with neighboring countries such as Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, boosting regional economic cooperation (MoRTH). Improved infrastructure will lead to faster and more efficient cross-border trade, strengthening India’s position as a dominant player in the South Asian economic corridor.

The Bharatmala Pariyojana serves as a strategic counter to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) by strengthening India’s connectivity, trade corridors, and military preparedness, particularly in border regions. The Chardham Highway Project, which improves connectivity to Uttarakhand’s border areas, and the Ladakh-Zanskar Highway, which enhances mobility in the high-altitude terrain, are critical in countering Chinese infrastructure development along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Additionally, the Sela Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh ensures all-weather connectivity to Tawang, reducing the time for troop deployment near the China border. The India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway boosts India’s regional influence and reduces dependence on Chinese trade routes. The Bharatmala network’s ability to enhance troop movement in the Northeast and Ladakh sectors ensures that, during potential conflicts, India is not at a logistical disadvantage. Unlike BRI, which often traps nations in debt dependency, Bharatmala focuses on self-reliant, sustainable development, strengthening India’s supply chains, border security, and regional influence. This project’s foresight in integrating economic growth with strategic defense preparedness makes it a crucial asset in India’s long-term geopolitical stance.

Challenges and Recommendations

The Bharatmala Pariyojana faces significant challenges that could hinder its execution, primarily delays and cost overruns. Initially approved in 2017 with a budget of ₹5.35 lakh crore, the project’s estimated cost has more than doubled to ₹10.64 lakh crore as of November 2023, largely due to escalating land acquisition costs and material expenses. Consequently, the completion timeline for Phase I has been extended to 2027-28. Another major hurdle is land acquisition and environmental concerns. The process is often delayed due to legal disputes, resistance from landowners, and bureaucratic inefficiencies. Additionally, securing environmental clearances to protect ecosystems and biodiversity adds to project delays and costs, requiring careful planning and mitigation efforts.

To enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the project, key measures must be implemented. Expedited land acquisition through streamlined procedures, fair compensation, and early stakeholder engagement can prevent prolonged disputes. Environmental sustainability should be prioritized by incorporating green construction practices, such as sustainable materials and carbon reduction strategies, along with measures like wildlife crossings and reforestation. Technological integration, including automated machinery, BIM, drone surveillance, and intelligent transportation systems, can improve construction precision, traffic flow, and safety. Encouraging Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) can bring private-sector expertise and investment, easing the financial burden on the government. Lastly, regular policy reviews will ensure the project remains aligned with economic and technological advancements, securing its long-term relevance and success.

Conclusion

The Bharatmala Pariyojana is not merely a highway development project but a transformative vision for India’s infrastructure, economic growth, and strategic security. By bridging connectivity gaps, reducing logistics costs, and enhancing industrial corridors, it lays the foundation for a more integrated and competitive economy. However, its success hinges on overcoming challenges such as land acquisition delays, cost escalations, and environmental concerns. Addressing these issues through streamlined policies, sustainable construction practices, and innovative financing mechanisms will ensure its long-term viability and impact. It embodies the spirit of a nation on the move, where every mile built is a step toward economic empowerment, regional balance, and national strength. After all, a well-connected India is a well-prospering India, and in the grand design of development, roads are not just conduits of transport but arteries of growth, linking aspirations with opportunities.

“The road to progress is paved with connectivity, innovation, and resilience.”

Author’s Bio: Vansh Vijay Aggarwal is a B.A. LL.B. student at Jindal Global Law School and a columnist at CNES.

Image Source: Govt To Initiate Bharatmala 2.0 For Vast Infrastructure Connectivity