The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved the development of eight significant National High-Speed Corridor projects spanning 936 km, at a total cost of Rs. 50,655 crore. These projects are expected to generate approximately 4.42 crore mandays of direct and indirect employment.
Project Briefs:
1. 6-Lane Agra – Gwalior National High-Speed Corridor:
The 88-km high-speed corridor will be developed on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) mode as a fully access-controlled 6-lane corridor at a capital cost of Rs. 4,613 crore. This project will enhance the existing 4-lane National Highway, increasing traffic capacity by more than double in the Agra-Gwalior section of the North-South Corridor (Srinagar-Kanyakumari). It will improve connectivity to key tourist destinations in Uttar Pradesh (e.g., Taj Mahal, Agra Fort) and Madhya Pradesh (e.g., Gwalior Fort), reducing the distance between Agra and Gwalior by 7% and travel time by 50%, significantly lowering logistics costs.
2. 4-Lane Kharagpur – Moregram National High-Speed Corridor:
The 231-km 4-lane access-controlled high-speed corridor between Kharagpur and Moregram will be developed in Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM) at a capital cost of Rs. 10,247 crore. This corridor will enhance the existing 2-lane National Highway, increasing traffic capacity by about five times. It will provide efficient connectivity between states such as West Bengal, Odisha, and Andhra Pradesh, and the northeastern part of the country, reducing travel time from 9-10 hours to 3-5 hours for freight vehicles.
3. 6-Lane Tharad – Deesa – Mehsana – Ahmedabad National High-Speed Corridor:
The 214-km 6-lane high-speed corridor will be developed on BOT mode at a capital cost of Rs. 10,534 crore. This corridor will connect key National Corridors in Gujarat, including the Amritsar-Jamnagar Corridor and the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, enhancing connectivity for freight vehicles from industrial regions of Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan to major ports in Maharashtra. The corridor will reduce the distance between Tharad and Ahmedabad by 20% and travel time by 60%, improving logistics efficiency.
4. 4-Lane Ayodhya Ring Road:
The 68-km 4-lane access-controlled Ayodhya Ring Road will be developed in HAM mode at a capital cost of Rs. 3,935 crore. This project will alleviate congestion on National Highways passing through Ayodhya, enabling faster movement for pilgrims visiting the Rama Mandir. The Ring Road will also provide seamless connectivity to tourists arriving from Lucknow International Airport, Ayodhya Airport, and major railway stations in the city.
5. 4-Lane Section between Pathalgaon and Gumla of Raipur-Ranchi National High-Speed Corridor:
The 137-km 4-lane access-controlled Pathalgaon-Gumla section of the Raipur-Ranchi Corridor will be developed in HAM mode at a capital cost of Rs. 4,473 crore. It will improve connectivity between mining areas in Gumla, Lohardaga, Raigarh, Korba, and Dhanbad, and industrial zones in Raipur, Durg, Korba, Bilaspur, Bokaro, and Dhanbad.
6. 6-Lane Kanpur Ring Road:
The 47-km 6-lane access-controlled Kanpur Ring Road will be developed in Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Mode (EPC) at a capital cost of Rs. 3,298 crore. This section will complete the 6-lane National Highway Ring around Kanpur, segregating long-distance traffic on key National Highways from city-bound traffic, thereby improving logistics efficiency.
7. 4-Lane Northern Guwahati Bypass and Widening/Improvement of Existing Guwahati Bypass:
The 121-km Guwahati Ring Road will be developed in Build Operate Toll (BOT) mode at a capital cost of Rs. 5,729 crore. The project includes a 4-lane access-controlled Northern Guwahati Bypass (56 km), widening of the existing 4-lane bypass on NH 27 to 6 lanes (8 km), and improvement of the existing bypass on NH 27 (58 km). A major bridge over the Brahmaputra River will also be constructed, easing congestion and improving connectivity to the northeastern region.
8. 8-Lane Elevated Nashik Phata – Khed Corridor near Pune:
The 30-km 8-lane elevated National High-Speed Corridor from Nashik Phata to Khed near Pune will be developed on BOT mode at a capital cost of Rs. 7,827 crore. This corridor will provide high-speed connectivity for traffic between industrial centers like Chakan and Bhosari on NH-60 and alleviate congestion around Pimpri-Chinchwad.
These projects represent a significant step towards enhancing India’s infrastructure, reducing travel time, and improving logistics efficiency, while generating substantial employment opportunities.
