Indian Roads Will Be Like American Roads in Another Two Years: Nitin Gadkari
Indian Roads Will Be Like American Roads in Another Two Years: Nitin Gadkari( Image grabbed from ANI youtube video)
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, has made a strong claim about India’s infrastructure future, stating that the country’s roads will match the quality and standards of those in the United States within the next two years. In a recent interaction with ANI, Gadkari emphasized that the transformation of India’s road network is already well underway and the nation is witnessing just the beginning of a much larger shift.
“What you’re seeing now is only the trailer; the real picture is yet to come,” Gadkari said confidently. “The pace at which we are building and modernizing is unprecedented. In two years, the quality of Indian roads will be comparable to those in America.”
Gadkari supported his claim with feedback from global visitors. “Some people from the U.S. recently told me that India’s infrastructure is now better than theirs,” he remarked.
Over the last decade, significant investment and policy reforms have fueled the development of India’s road network. This strategic push has not only expanded highway coverage but also cut down logistics costs—a key driver for global competitiveness.
According to Gadkari, logistics expenses, which previously stood at a high 16% of GDP, have now dropped to 9%. For comparison, China’s stands at 8%, while the U.S. and Europe average around 12%. He credited the improved highways and smoother transport for this reduction.
“Earlier, our logistics suffered due to poor roads and ports,” Gadkari said. “But now, the entire system is improving. This shift will directly benefit trade, manufacturing, services, and especially agriculture.”
Among major ongoing infrastructure initiatives are 25 greenfield expressways, a 3,000-km highway project aimed at boosting port connectivity, and ₹1 lakh crore worth of roads focused on religious tourism.
Special attention is being given to spiritual and cultural circuits, such as the Char Dham and Buddhist pilgrimage routes, with all-weather roads ensuring year-round access. In Jammu and Kashmir, 36 tunnels are being developed to improve access between Jammu and Srinagar—23 of which are already completed.
The Parvatmala Yojana is another major step, aiming to build 15 ropeways in hilly terrains, complemented by the development of 35 multi-modal logistics parks across India to streamline freight movement.
India currently has the world’s second-largest road network, and its National Highways span around 146,000 km. The average construction pace has surged from 12.1 km/day in 2014–15 to 33.8 km/day in 2023–24, marking a near threefold increase.
Gadkari concluded by stressing that infrastructure is the cornerstone of economic growth. “Better roads mean better connectivity, lower costs, and a stronger economy. This is how we’ll power India’s vision of becoming a $5 trillion economy,” he said.
As the country accelerates its road-building spree, the journey to world-class infrastructure seems closer than ever.
