Massive spending, inflated metrics, systemic delays and deep-rooted corruption now threaten the credibility of India’s highway expansion, observes LT GEN RAJEEV CHAUDHRY (Retd), former DG Border Roads.
India is spending more on national highways than ever before. With Rs 2.72 lakh crore earmarked for FY 2025–26 and ambitious targets under the Amrit Kaal vision, the narrative is one of speed, scale and transformation. Yet, beneath the headline numbers lies an uncomfortable reality: highways that crack under monsoons, projects that spiral into delays and arbitration, and a system where optics often trump outcomes. As India races to build, the harder question is whether it is building to last — or merely building fast...
