India’s highways and expressways are quietly transforming the nation, boosting connectivity, creating jobs, and driving inclusive growth from metro cities to remote villages, writes Sanjay Kumar Sinha, Founder & Managing Director, Chaitanya Projects Consultancy.
India’s fast growth is being quietly driven by its expanding road network. Highways and expressways aren’t just paths from one place to another, they connect the country, boost trade, and open up new opportunities across cities, towns, and villages.
In many areas of India, especially in villages and smaller towns, roads used to be narrow and crowded, which made traveling slower. Thanks to recent improvements, roads have become wider and better, helping businesses grow and making it easier for people to reach schools, hospitals, and markets quickly. These changes are improving lives across the country.
A Backbone for Growth
India’s highways and expressways have grown like never before in the past ten years. Led by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), major projects like Bharatmala Pariyojana are building over 83,000 km of roads to improve how the country moves.
These new road networks are changing how businesses operate. Factories can now get raw materials quicker, goods reach markets faster, and people can travel more easily. Since about 65% of freight and 80% of passengers in India depend on road transport, better highways directly help the economy grow.
This transformation is evident from the recent announcement of India’s record-breaking achievement in highway construction, covering over 12,000 km in the fiscal year 2023–24 alone, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. This marks one of the highest expansions ever in a single year, showing how road infrastructure is now being prioritised at an unprecedented scale.
Making Progress Faster
Expressways today are doing more than just cutting travel time; they are helping different parts of the country grow together. For example, the Amritsar to Jamnagar Expressway is acting as a major industrial corridor, opening up new opportunities across Punjab, Rajasthan, and Gujarat. Similarly, the Delhi–Amritsar– Katra Expressway is transforming connectivity in northern India, boosting tourism, trade, and agroindustries in smaller towns along the route.
Even central belts like the Ludhiana–Bathinda–Ajmer Expressway and the Warangal to Khammam Expressway are ushering in new industrial estates and better transport systems, connecting smaller towns to the national economy like never before. Much of this growth is being made possible by expert infrastructure consultancies in India, working behind the scenes, planning smart, building strong, and helping development reach beyond big cities into rural and semi-urban India.
This kind of regional connectivity is driving more balanced development across the country. By opening up access to once-isolated areas, it enables industries to expand into newer geographies instead of crowding around traditional metro hubs. As backward regions become more accessible and investment friendly, employment opportunities grow locally, helping reduce migration to big cities and improving the quality of life where people already live.
Alongside regional growth, highway construction is driving large-scale job creation. Skilled and unskilled workers across engineering, logistics, planning, and construction are benefiting from training. Infrastructure development is emerging as one of the largest contributors to workforce upskilling in the country.
Making Life Easier
Better roads are improving daily life for millions of people across India. Travel is faster and safer, and it’s easier to reach schools, hospitals, and workplaces. Farmers can now get their produce to markets quicker, which means less waste after harvest. Students from smaller towns can travel to better colleges, and workers living far from their families can visit home more often. These improved roads aren’t just about movement, they’re helping people stay connected and live better lives.
In addition, safer roads have significantly reduced accident rates on many stretches. Emergency medical services can respond faster, which saves lives. Improved connectivity also empowers women and vulnerable groups by easing access to education and healthcare facilities, making social inclusion a real benefit of infrastructure development.
Adding to India’s Ambitions
India’s vision of becoming a global manufacturing and export hub is deeply linked to its transport network. High-speed corridors aligned with expressways are transforming logistics. Seamless road connectivity to ports, airports, and border checkpoints ensures smoother trade flow, a prerequisite for competitiveness in global supply chains. Moreover, government initiatives like ‘Make in India’ rely heavily on such infrastructure. Efficient highways lower transportation costs and improve supply chain reliability, helping Indian manufacturers compete internationally. This infrastructure is a key enabler for India’s export targets and ambitions to integrate deeply with global markets.
As India works toward its economic goals, there’s also a clear focus on making sure this growth is both sustainable and prepared for the future.
Sustainability & Future Ready Roads
Today’s expressways are about more than just getting from one place to another faster, they’re about building a cleaner, smarter future. New highways now have electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and solar-powered lights. It shows that progress can also be kind to nature.
Many expressway projects today are also being developed under green financing models and ESG (Environmental, Social, Governance) frameworks. From using recycled materials in roadbeds to planting trees along corridors and integrating solar infrastructure, these efforts reflect a shift towards more climate resilient and sustainable road development.
Technology is also making travel smoother. With FASTag, there’s no need to stop at toll booths. Smart traffic systems help manage jams and keep roads safer. All of this makes our highways better for everyone—cleaner, faster, and easier to use.
Looking ahead, smart highways with the Internet of Things (IOT) sensors and real-time traffic updates are starting to take shape. These new technologies are expected to monitor road conditions, ease traffic jams before they happen, and keep everyone safer. These innovations are part of a larger push under the Digital India mission.
While expressways are advancing sustainability and technology, they are also playing an important role in strategic connectivity and national security.
Strategic Connectivity And Border Infrastructure
In India’s remote and rugged areas like Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh, new roads are transforming how fast troops and supplies can move. Take the Arunachal Frontier Highway, for example—a 1,637 km project along the India-China border approved in 2023. Once completed, it will dramatically cut travel time for the armed forces and improve access for people in some of the most isolated villages in the country.
Similarly, the Trans-Arunachal Highway, nearing completion, is already opening up better civilian access across 11 districts while supporting the Indian Army’s movement across difficult terrain. In Ladakh, projects like the Nimmu– Padum–Darcha Road, completed in March 2024, and the Zojila Tunnel, expected to be completed by September 2026, are improving all-weather connectivity in areas that previously remained cut off for months.
According to the Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, over 2,000 km of strategic border roads have been built in the past five years alone. By building where it’s toughest, India is not only securing its borders but also stitching together a more inclusive and connected nation.
Final Thoughts
Expressways and highways are improving travel, creating jobs, and helping businesses grow in India. As the country aims to become a $5 trillion economy, well-built roads will play a key role. Roads that were once narrow and damaged are now wider and smoother, helping goods and people move faster. Every new road supports economic growth and better living conditions. However, building these roads also brings specific challenges, such as land acquisition and environmental impact. The government is updating policies and working with local communities to manage these issues. Private companies are also working with the government to complete projects on time and maintain road quality. These expressways are not just roads—they are essential to India’s economic and social development.■
Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author are his own and do not necessarily reflect the views of FMM magazine.
Sanjay Kumar Sinha
Founder & Managing Director
Chaitanya Projects Consultancy.