Bharatmala Project
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a comprehensive national highway development programme launched by the Government of India in 2017. It aims to develop a network of economic corridors, inter-corridors, ring roads, and coastal and port connectivity roads to improve freight movement efficiency across India.
What Is Bharatmala?
Bharatmala is one of India’s largest road infrastructure programmes. The first phase targets development of approximately 34,800 km of roads across various categories. The primary focus is on creating an efficient logistics network that reduces transport time and cost for goods movement.
The programme is implemented by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
Key Components of Bharatmala
– **Economic Corridors**: high-speed, high-capacity roads connecting major economic centres
– **Inter-Corridors**: connecting existing economic corridors for a comprehensive grid
– **Ring Roads**: bypasses around congested major cities to reduce urban freight traffic
– **National Corridor Efficiency Improvement**: improving existing national highways
– **Coastal and Port Connectivity Roads**: roads connecting ports to the national highway network
– **Border and International Connectivity Roads**: roads to land ports and border areas
Why Bharatmala Matters
India’s logistics cost as a percentage of GDP (around 13-14%) is significantly higher than that of developed economies (around 8%). Poor road connectivity between production centres and markets adds cost and time. Bharatmala aims to reduce this gap by:
– Reducing travel time on key corridors
– Improving the quality and capacity of freight routes
– Connecting industrial clusters to ports and border posts
Progress
Bharatmala Phase I has seen significant road construction since 2017. NHAI has awarded large stretches of economic corridors and expressways. Key projects include Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, and various coastal road projects.
Practical Example
The Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, part of Bharatmala, reduces travel time between India’s two largest cities from about 24 hours by road to approximately 12 to 13 hours. Trucks carrying goods between Mumbai’s port and Delhi’s industrial zones save significant fuel and driver time. Logistics costs on this corridor are expected to reduce by 20% to 30%.
Key Takeaways
– Bharatmala is a national highway development programme targeting 34,800 km of new roads in Phase I
– Focuses on economic corridors, ring roads, and port connectivity to reduce logistics costs
– Implemented by NHAI with significant private sector participation through PPP models
– Projects like Delhi-Mumbai Expressway are transforming freight movement in India
– Lower logistics costs improve the competitiveness of Indian manufacturing and exports
