The highway construction under the April to June quarter has touched 26 kilometres per day, marginally up from 25 kilometres per day, clocked in the same period last year as reported by the Financial Express.
As per the figures provided, this speed has seen the construction of 2,345 KM of roads in the three month period. As compared to this, 2,260 KM of roads were constructed in the same quarter last year.
Even though the total construction rate has remained stable, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has significantly increased its pace from 1.8 KM per day to 8.3 KM per day in the periods mentions above.
If the figures provided hold up, it would mean that the rate of road construction under the BJP government has surpassed the highest ever tally clocked under the erstwhile UPA government.
As reported in a Times of India article, the highest rate of road construction by the union ministry under the UPA government was, 16 KM per day during the 2012-13 period, and the second highest was 14 KM per day in 2009-10.
Even the yearly rate of road construction under the NDA government has surpassed its UPA counterpart’s highest record.
As reported in April last year, the road construction rate for 2017-18 was clocked at 28 KM per day resulting in the construction 10,000 KM worth of roads. Prior to that in 2016-17, 8,231 KM worth of roads were constructed which translates to 22.55 KM per day.
Despite the improvement in the road construction rate, scope still remains for further advancement as, by union minister for road transport and highways – Nitin Gadkari’s own admission, they are aiming for a road construction rate of 45 KM per day.
