Highway construction pace in Oct falls 20% YoY in another month of decline

Dip in October has severely dented prospects of road ministry meeting its target of constructing 12,000-14,000 km of highways in 2022-23

National highway construction in the country fell by 20 per cent in the month of October as against last year, taking the ministry of road transport and highways (MoRTH) back to another month of decline. The ministry, through its executing agencies, constructed 501 kilometres (km) of national highways in October.

After a slow start to this financial year due to unstable rains and floods, the ministry had finally improved on its 2021-22 figures in September. However, the return to a decline in October has severely dented the prospects of the ministry meeting its target of constructing 12,000-14,000 km of highways in 2022-23.

The decline in highway construction pace comes amid a backdrop of reduced expectations and targets. Last fiscal year, the ministry, in an attempt to top its record 13,000-km annual construction in 2020-21, kept a target of 14,000 km. However, it had to later revise the same to 12,000 kms, which it also missed by over 1,700 km.

Seven months into this fiscal year, the Centre has constructed 4060 km of highways, which is 11 per cent lower than what it achieved last year. While highways minister Nitin Gadkari wants highway construction to reach 50 km/day, current execution is averaging at 19.33 km/day.

Last month, then Union road transport and highways secretary Giridhar Aramane had said that contractual issues had also been one of the factors behind the declining pace, and construction typically picks up pace in the second half of the year.