Important Indian Scheme · Roads & Highways

Bharatmala Pariyojana

A flagship highway development programme to build economic corridors and improve road connectivity.

Launched
2017
Ministry
Road Transport & Highways
Phase-I
~34,800 km
Focus
Economic Corridors

Overview

Bharatmala Pariyojana is a centrally sponsored and funded umbrella programme for highway development, launched in 2017 under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. It aims to optimise the efficiency of road traffic movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps. Phase-I targets development of about 34,800 km of national highways. The programme focuses on economic corridors, inter-corridor and feeder routes, national corridor efficiency improvement, border and international connectivity roads, coastal and port connectivity roads, and greenfield expressways, to boost trade and connectivity.

Key Features & Objectives

  • ✓Development of economic corridors, feeder routes and inter-corridor roads.
  • ✓Improvement of national corridor efficiency and reduction of logistics costs.
  • ✓Border and international connectivity roads to strengthen strategic connectivity.
  • ✓Coastal and port connectivity roads to support trade and Sagarmala synergy.
  • ✓Construction of greenfield expressways and improvement of road safety.

Key Facts at a Glance

Launch Year 2017
Nodal Ministry Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Phase-I Target ~34,800 km of highways
Key Focus Economic corridors & connectivity
Implementing Agencies NHAI, NHIDCL, State PWDs
Related Scheme Sagarmala (port connectivity)
Objective Efficient road network & lower logistics cost
📝 Exam Focus: Note launch year (2017), Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Phase-I target (~34,800 km), and the focus on economic corridors.

Practice MCQs

Q1. Bharatmala Pariyojana is related to the development of:
A. Ports
B. Highways/Roads ✔
C. Railways
D. Airports
Q2. Bharatmala Pariyojana was launched in which year?
A. 2015
B. 2016
C. 2017 ✔
D. 2018
Q3. Which ministry implements Bharatmala Pariyojana?
A. Ministry of Shipping
B. Ministry of Road Transport and Highways ✔
C. Ministry of Railways
D. Ministry of Urban Affairs
Q4. Phase-I of Bharatmala targets the development of approximately how many km of highways?
A. 10,000 km
B. 24,800 km
C. 34,800 km ✔
D. 50,000 km
Q5. A primary focus of Bharatmala Pariyojana is the development of:
A. Economic corridors ✔
B. Smart cities
C. Power plants
D. Digital networks