Bharatmala Pariyojana is a flagship road infrastructure program initiated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in India to improve road connectivity, focusing on enhancing freight and passenger movement. The project spans multiple phases and incorporates elements like economic corridors, interstate corridors, border and international connectivity, and port connectivity.
Phase-I of the Bharatmala project was launched in 2017, with an original completion target of 2022. However, due to slow implementation and financial constraints, the completion date was extended to 2027-28. As of March 2024, nearly 50% of Phase-I has been completed, covering 26,425 km of roads, with 17,411 km completed and an expenditure of Rs 4.59 lakh crore.
The project is part of the PM Gati-Shakti Plan, which integrates Bharatmala with initiatives like Sagarmala (for ports) to enhance India's infrastructure connectivity.
Key Features of Bharatmala Pariyojana
- Economic Corridors and Efficiency: Bharatmala aims to improve existing road infrastructure by building and enhancing 26,000 km of economic corridors. This includes the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) and North-South East-West (NS-EW) corridors, which carry a large portion of freight traffic.
- Inter-State and Feeder Routes: These are essential for improving first and last-mile connectivity, covering 8,000 km of interstate corridors and 7,500 km of feeder routes.
- Border and International Connectivity Roads: Bharatmala also focuses on strengthening roads along international borders to improve trade and defense logistics.
- Coastal and Port Connectivity Roads: The project links roads to coastal and port areas, promoting port-led economic development and tourism.
- Greenfield Expressways: New expressways are being developed to avoid congestion, improve traffic flow, and boost connectivity.
Funding Mechanism The funding for Bharatmala is being sourced from multiple channels, such as the
Central Road and Infrastructure Fund cess,
monetisation of national highways,
private investments, and
budgetary support. This diversified funding approach aims to ensure the long-term sustainability and completion of the project.
Current Status of Bharatmala Pariyojana - 26,425 km of road contracts have been awarded, and 17,411 km have been completed by March 2024.
- The project spans 34,800 km across 31 states and UTs and covers over 550 districts.
Similar Infrastructure Initiatives - Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): Launched in 2001, this scheme aims to connect rural areas and remote habitations to enhance accessibility to essential services.
- National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP): A comprehensive initiative to improve infrastructure across India, focusing on greenfield and brownfield projects in sectors like Energy, Roads, and Railways.
- Golden Quadrilateral: A monumental project that connects India’s top metropolitan cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata) via a network of highways.
- New Contracting Models: Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), Toll, Operate, and Transfer (TOT), and Infrastructure Investment Trusts (InVITs) are emerging as new methods to fund and develop infrastructure projects.
Significance of Road Infrastructure for India’s Development - Economic Growth and Productivity: Roads play a crucial role in supporting economic activities, contributing over 3.6% of India’s GDP. They facilitate the transportation of goods and passengers, reducing costs and improving market access.
- Rural Development and Social Equity: Rural road development under PMGSY bridges the gap between isolated communities and essential services, boosting social equity and improving living standards.
- Tourism and Cultural Exchange: Well-developed roads enable tourism, contributing to economic growth and fostering cultural exchange.
- National Security and Defense: Roads along strategic borders and international routes are essential for defense logistics and national security.
Concerns in Road Infrastructure Development - Environmental Concerns: Road construction can lead to deforestation, biodiversity loss, and pollution. It is also a significant contributor to CO2 emissions and Particulate Matter (PM), impacting air quality.
- Social Concerns: Road projects may lead to displacement of communities, particularly in rural areas, and pose safety risks, as evidenced by over 150,000 fatalities in road accidents in 2021.
- Economic Concerns: Cost overruns and project delays are common, leading to budgetary issues. In some cases, costs exceed projections by over 40%.
- Governance and Policy Issues: Corruption in bidding, lack of comprehensive planning, and poor project execution hinder the effectiveness of road infrastructure projects.
Way Forward for Road Infrastructure Development - Strategic Procurement: Secure raw materials at competitive rates to optimize costs.
- Land Acquisition: Streamline the process by adopting transparent practices and considering alternatives like land pooling to avoid disputes.
- Tax and Policy Support: Address the impact of GST policies on the industry to ensure smooth project execution.
In conclusion, while
Bharatmala Pariyojana and other infrastructure projects are vital for India’s economic growth and connectivity, addressing environmental, social, and governance challenges will be crucial for their sustainable development.
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