India’s highways infra to match US by 2024: According to India’s Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari, the country’s motorway infrastructure will be comparable to that of the United States by 2024. He revealed that the government is working on this goal in a time-bound ‘mission mode,’ which includes the development of green expressways and rail over bridges. These initiatives are aimed at ensuring that India’s highway infrastructure matches the standards of the US by the specified timeline.
March 2023 Current Affairs Quiz
‘Bharatmala 2’ Project:
Nitin Gadkari, India’s Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, has stated that cabinet approval for ‘Bharatmala 2’, which will address the country’s need for robust infrastructure, is expected soon. The ambitious project aims to construct over 5,000 km of expressways and highways at an estimated cost of nearly ₹3 trillion.
The Bharatmala Pariyojana, India’s largest infrastructure program, will connect more than 580 districts in the country by developing around 35,000 km of National Highway corridors.
Kailash Mansarovar highway project:
Nitin Gadkari provided an update on the Kailash Mansarovar motorway via Pithoragarh project, stating that approximately 93% of the project work has already been completed. The construction of this highway will provide a convenient alternative for pilgrims undertaking the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, as they will be able to avoid the challenging trek through dangerous high-altitude terrain.
Furthermore, the journey time is expected to be reduced by several days. At present, it takes around two to three weeks to travel to Kailash Mansarovar via Sikkim or Nepal routes.