Bengaluru: In a matter that makes our hearts swell with pride, India’s road construction capacity touched 30 kilometres per day, making it an achievement. 

Union minister for road construction, Nitin Gadkari informed the Parliament about the development in this regard. 

Nitin Gadkari said, “Today the information which I have received is that our construction record comes to 29.6 km, means 30 km per day...and this is for the first time, the highest record was achieved by NHAI in the history of the country". 

It is to be noted that the ministry hopes to come on par with the US and European nations in the next 5 years at this pace. 
Under the Bharatmala Pariyojana, the ministry indeed has great plans. As reports add, it hopes to construct 34,800 km of highways at a cost of Rs 5.35 lakh crore.

He informed that the contract for 13,521 km roads under the project has already been awarded till now while detailed project report (DPR) for 16,500 km is in the pipeline. Apart from that, bids have been invited for 4,800 km. 

Bharatmala project: 

A central scheme, the project envisages to build roads and highways across the country at an investment of over Rs 5 lakh crore. 

Special emphasis will be laid on extending connectivity to borders and distant areas. Tribals and members of backward areas will be the beneficiaries. 

The project also aims at interconnecting 550 district headquarters from the existing 300. 
The scheme also gives an impetus to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ambitious plan of Atmanirbhar Bharat, which he hopes will make the country self-reliant and a manufactuting behemoth in the world.