Which infrastructure project ongoing in 2024 aims to improve India’s highways and logistics sector?

The correct answer is Bharatmala Pariyojana.

Key Points

• Bharatmala Pariyojana is a centrally-sponsored and funded initiative aimed at improving road infrastructure and connectivity across India.
• Launched by the Government of India in 2017, the project seeks to develop approximately 34,800 kilometers of highways.
• It focuses on building economic corridors, interconnecting highways, feeder routes, and border roads to enhance logistics efficiency.
• The initiative is critical for reducing logistics costs in India, aiding industrial growth, and improving connectivity to remote areas.
• The Bharatmala project is being implemented in phases, with Phase I targeting the construction of 24,800 km of roads at an estimated cost of Rs. 5.35 lakh crore.

Additional Information

• Economic Corridors:
  • These are long stretches of highways designed to connect industrial hubs, production centers, and key trade zones across the country.
  • Economic corridors aim to enhance freight movement and reduce travel time for goods transportation.
• Border Roads:
  • Under Bharatmala Pariyojana, special focus is given to roads along India's international borders to ensure strategic connectivity.
  • These roads are essential for defense logistics and maintaining national security.
• Feeder Routes:
  • Feeder routes are smaller roads that connect remote and rural areas to major highways and economic corridors.
  • They play a crucial role in ensuring last-mile connectivity and facilitating access to marketplaces.
• Logistics Sector Impact:
  • The Bharatmala initiative is expected to significantly reduce logistics costs in India, which currently stand at approximately 14% of GDP.
  • Improved road infrastructure will also reduce transit times and promote the use of multi-modal transportation systems.