489 National Highway Projects Delayed Due to Land & Clearance Issues: Gadkari

A total of 489 national highway projects, initially scheduled for completion by March 2025, are facing delays due to issues in land acquisition, forest and wildlife clearances, and railway approvals.

In a written reply to the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said the government is working closely with state authorities and stakeholders to resolve the pending issues. He acknowledged that the delays have led to cost overruns, citing reasons such as higher land compensation, rising material prices, GST impact, public demand for additional structures, and design changes required to meet railway norms.

For projects facing prolonged delays with no progress, the ministry terminates the contracts and re-awards them, sometimes with revised configurations, to ensure completion. Gadkari also confirmed that all national highways follow Indian Road Congress (IRC) specifications, with design speeds of up to 100 km/h for highways and 120 km/h for expressways in plains.