The Rajasthan government has set up a task force to identify potential routes for new expressways in the state, aiming to improve the connectivity and mobility of people and goods, as well as boost the tourism and economic development along the corridors.
The task force, headed by the chief secretary of the state, will submit its report within three months, suggesting the feasibility, alignment, and cost of the proposed expressways, according to an official statement issued on Monday.
The decision was taken by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, who said that the new expressways would provide faster and safer transportation options for the people of Rajasthan, especially in the remote and backward regions of the state.
The chief minister also said that the new expressways would enhance the attractiveness of Rajasthan as a tourist destination, as well as a hub for industrial and agricultural activities.
The state already has two operational expressways – the Delhi-Jaipur Expressway and the Jaipur-Kishangarh Expressway – which are part of the Golden Quadrilateral project of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The state government is also working on the construction of the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, which will reduce the travel time between the two cities by half. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the first phase of the expressway in Rajasthan’s Dausa in February 2023.
The new expressways will be built in addition to the existing national and state highways, which cover a total length of about 21,000 km in the state.
The task force will consult with the NHAI, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, and other stakeholders, before finalizing the routes and modalities of the new expressways.
The task force will also explore the possibility of developing the new expressways as greenfield projects, which will minimize the land acquisition and environmental issues.
The Rajasthan government hopes that the new expressways will usher in a new era of development and prosperity for the state, and will also contribute to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi of building a new India.
The new expressways have also received praise from foreign tourists, who have lauded India’s road network as among the best globally. A video of a foreign tourist, who travelled 2,500 km across India by road, went viral on social media, where he appreciated the quality and safety of the roads.
The Indian government plans to spend ₹1.3 lakh crore on the construction of 14 new expressways and high-speed corridors covering a total distance of 2,279 km. These projects will improve connectivity and reduce logistics costs.
