Govt directs data check as roads miss target for 2nd yr

In FY22, 10,457 km of highways were built against a 12,000 km target due to the pandemic

- Subhash Narayan

The roads ministry has ordered a scrutiny of highway construction data after finding initial estimates for FY23 missing the target by a wide margin for the second year in a row, two persons aware of the development said.

Less than 11,000 km of roads may have been built in FY23, lower than the yearly target of 12,200 km, these people said. In pandemic-year FY22, only 10,457 km of highways were constructed against a target of 12,000 km.

However, some figures may not show up in data yet, including those for roads that are nearly completed but not commissioned and those hit by delays because of late statutory clearances.

One of the two persons quoted above said the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the prime road building agency, has been asked to provide all the data on highway construction and awards, including on construction that is nearing completion.