Highway construction in the last fiscal year hit 9,380 km, missing the 10,000 km target and marking the slowest pace since 2017-18. The government cited delays in land acquisition and securing necessary clearances, alongside a sharp drop in awarding new highway projects. Together, these factors stretched timelines and reduced the pace of work nationwide.
Tighter highway bidding norms are being rolled out to bring more discipline to road projects. By raising the bar on net worth and technical capabilities, the rules intend to curb cutthroat competition among developers, speed up construction, and better protect quality—an approach aimed at reducing the likelihood of flawed work that leads to potholes.
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