Indian and American Expressway: Who is the most talked about minister in Modi government? If someone asks you this question, what will be your answer? Nitin Gadkari? Perhaps most people's answer would be this. Whatever program Gadkari attends, he definitely says something which the media cannot ignore. Recently he had said that he had received an offer from the opposition to become PM, but he rejected it. It is not known who made this offer. He said that he can complete his work.
Gadkari says that he does not have any PR manager. Still, he continues to be in the headlines in the media. And, the special thing is that this is not a negative publicity. She herself is a 'case study' for a PR manager. A separate article can be written on this skill of his. This issue is not the subject of this article.
Even as a minister, Gadkari has built his image as an honest and prompt builder of roads and highways. Wherever he goes, he talks about the achievements of his ministry and compares it with America and says that in such a time the roads here will compete with America or even be better than America.
On September 25, when he went to Gurugram to seek votes for BJP in the Haryana Assembly elections, he said the same thing there too. Enumerating the works of his ministry, he said that by December 2024, projects worth Rs 2 lakh crore in Haryana will either be completed, or will be started or are in the process of being started. He said, 'By the end of 2024, the national highway infrastructure in Haryana will be better than America.'
Gadkari has on many occasions talked about giving India highways or highway infrastructure equal to or better than America. But, is this really possible? Is this comparison between India and America correct? Here we have tried to answer some such natural questions.
To find the answer, we looked at data from multiple places, including primarily Nitin Gadkari's ministry, the US Department of Transportation (Federal Highway Administration – FHWA), the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), and reports on highway infrastructure in India . America. Tried to understand the challenges of both. Let's first take a look at the comparative data of the two countries:
total road network
- The total road network in India is 66.71 lakh kilometers long (2023 figures).
- The length of National Highways is 1,46,145 lakh kilometers (about 2% of the total road length).
- The length of roads per 1000 persons in India is approximately 5.13 km.
- Total road network in America: 68.03 lakh kilometers.
- There are 2.64 lakh kilometers of roads under the National Highway System (NHS). Out of this Rs 78000
- Kilometers of interstate highways (part of the National Highway System).
- The length of roads per 1000 persons is approximately 20.1 km. Almost four times more than India.
new highways
- Under the 'Bharatmala Project', there is a plan to build 34,800 km of new highways in India by 2027-28. 15043 km to be constructed by 2023.
- A target was set to build an average of 40 kilometers of highways per day in India, but only 28.3 kilometers were built (by 2022-23). 10331 km long highways were constructed in India in 2022-23.
budget and investment
- In India, the Union Budget 2024-25 will provide Rs. Rs 2.78 lakh crore (about $33 billion) was allocated.
- In America, in 2021, the Biden administration provided $70 billion for highway expansion and maintenance.
- While in India the emphasis is on the PPP model for construction, in the US there is a strong reliance on the Highway Trust Fund (HTF). This amount is collected by imposing tax on vehicle fuel.
Comparison in terms of technology
The FASTag system in India has improved traffic at toll plazas. GIS mapping and drone surveying is being done to monitor road construction projects. Besides, emphasis has also been laid on building 'Green Highways'.
Smart transportation systems and intelligent highway technology (ITS) are being rapidly adopted in the US. The focus is on development of road infrastructure for automated and electric vehicles (AVs and EVs).
Comparison of challenges of both countries
If we compare the challenges of India and America in the field of highways, they are also completely different. In India, major challenges arise such as delays in obtaining land and environmental clearances, delays in arranging funds for projects, lack of complete quality assurance in construction and maintenance issues.
America, on the other hand, faces a different challenge. Much of the US highway network was built in the mid-20th century and is now in need of major repairs and upgrades. It is no longer easy to raise funds for highways due to declining fuel tax collections. Apart from this, challenges like political deadlock and urban sprawl also arise. Now, on the basis of these figures, you can guess whether it is an exaggeration to compare India with America in terms of roads, whether the leaders are showing sweet dreams to the public or the reality.
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