MoRTH's Accelerated Plan to Clear a Backlog of 923 Projects

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has intensified efforts to fast-track 923 ongoing road infrastructure projects, many of which have significantly overshot their original deadlines. The objective is to complete at least 50% of these projects by March 2026, through measures such as streamlined clearances, accelerated land acquisition, and timely release of central funds.

To enforce accountability, MoRTH has implemented a strict monitoring framework with monthly high-level reviews to track progress and address delays proactively.

The total projected expenditure for these projects stands at ₹7.7 lakh crore, exceeding both the revised estimate of ₹7.6 lakh crore and the original outlay of ₹7.3 lakh crore.

According to the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, road sector projects dominate central infrastructure completions — in Q1 FY26, 81 road projects accounted for nearly 70% (69.8%) of all completed infrastructure works.

Some projects have seen extensive delays. For instance:

The NH-219 rehabilitation project in Andhra Pradesh took nine years and eight months beyond its planned completion in October 2015.

The four-laning of NH-361 in Maharashtra exceeded its March 2017 target by over eight years.

MoRTH’s renewed push is aimed at resolving bottlenecks and accelerating execution, ensuring that key infrastructure corridors are completed to support economic growth and connectivity across the country.

News by Rahul Yelligetti.