Road Construction: Why Maharashtra, Gujarat Do Well But Bihar, Jharkhand Just Can't

Take roads, for instance. Over the last decade, India’s road infrastructure has grown by 59 per cent and is second only to China in total road network size at approximately 6.7 million km. 

By 2022–23, the length of National Highways had surged to 145,240 km, a significant increase from 91,287 km in 2013–14. The pace of construction has also more than doubled, from 12.1 km per day in 2014 to 28.3 km per day, showcasing a push to improve national connectivity.

The Bharatmala Project and Gati Shakti are at the  forefront of this transformation. Bharatmala Phase I alone plans for the construction of 34,800 km of roads, including 27 greenfield corridors.

Gati Shakti is driving high-impact projects such as the Delhi-Mumbai and Amritsar-Jamnagar highways. 

Despite these feats, inter-state disparities mar the development of road infrastructure. Regional imbalances creep in when urban centres see significant investment, leaving smaller towns and rural areas way backward. 

Government expenditure often favours regions with higher growth potential, widening the gap between developed and underdeveloped areas.

Market forces, lack of strategic planning and resource allocation compound these inequalities. Resolving this disparity is essential for fostering balanced growth and social harmony across the country.

On the other hand, processes have been streamlined further with the Gati Shakti portal which has fully digitised authorisations, ensuring faster project clearances.

Similarly, in August 2023, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) launched the Rajmargyatra app with real-time updates on highway conditions, and an easy platform for motorists to voice complaints or suggestions.

The Government has also simplified regulations and offered incentives to boost private sector investment.

Over the last nine years, the focus has shifted to projects worth over Rs 50 lakh crore, with road infrastructure investment for 2024-25 nearly tripling to Rs 1.68 lakh crore. 

Uneven Development Holds Up Its Remedy

 

As the table highlights, highways which form the backbone of India's road network, rely on smaller roads, to distribute goods and services across the country.

However, these secondary roads that account for 95 per cent of the road network, remain under focused and in need of significant improvement. 

A contributing factor is the inconsistent implementation of rules and regulations at the state level, which depends on each state’s governance capacity and level of development.

This imbalance leads to bad road quality and thus connectivity is hindered.

Interstate road disparity also threatens to derail national programmes like Bharatmala and industrial development efforts.

Unequal resource distribution, poor urban planning, and safety concerns in states with weaker infrastructure all hinder economic equity and regional connectivity.

A concerted effort across all levels of government is necessary to bridge these gaps and ensure comprehensive road development across India.

Experts Say Regional Planning, Connectivity And Safety Key 

Nitin Patil of the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy attributes this to uneven resource allocation.

States like Maharashtra, with higher revenue-generating capacities, can invest heavily in roads, while poorer states like Bihar and Jharkhand struggle with basic infrastructure. 

The difference is stark—Bihar’s road density stands at 80 km per 1000 sq km compared to Kerala’s 540 km.

This gap leads to higher transportation costs and inefficiencies in logistics.

As a logistics expert points out, trucking goods through Jharkhand takes 30 per cent longer than neighbouring West Bengal, increasing time and fuel expenses.

Pravar Saini, a consultant at National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Limited, highlights how this disparity undermines national programmes like Bharatmala, which aim to create seamless economic corridors. 

Poor road quality in states such as Bihar and Jharkhand slows industrial development and disrupts supply chains, making it difficult for industries to operate effectively.

In contrast, Maharashtra’s strong road infrastructure enables it to attract more industries, deepening regional inequality.

Greenfield towns, essential to India’s industrial expansion under Bharatmala, depend on high-quality road networks to connect with urban centres and ports.

Saini stresses that without proper connectivity, towns in states such as Madhya Pradesh and Odisha will struggle to attract business and labour, unlike Maharashtra’s thriving industrial hubs.

This is despite Bharatmala working full tilt.

How To Set Right This Disparity

Anshul Tiwari from CEPT University adds road infrastructure should be integrated into broader urban planning.

States such as Tamil Nadu excel in aligning road projects with urban needs, ensuring roads connect key economic hubs while also serving local populations.

However, many states lack this approach, leading to poorly maintained roads that deteriorate quickly, further widening the infrastructure gap.

Safety concerns are crucial as well, points out Avinash Misra from SaveLIFE Foundation.

Poor road conditions, particularly in states such as Uttar Pradesh, contribute to high accident rates—Uttar Pradesh alone reported over 19,000 fatalities in 2022.

Misra emphasises that Bharatmala’s goal of creating safer highways will be difficult to achieve without addressing these issues, which go beyond just road quality and include proper signage, lighting, and stricter regulations.

To tackle these challenges, Misra and others suggest leveraging public-private partnerships (PPP) to bring private sector efficiency and investment into road development.

PPP models could help states with limited fiscal capacity, speeding up road projects and reducing logistical inefficiencies, boosting both industrial growth and public safety. 

Setting these disparities right will require not only increased investment but also integrated planning and innovative solutions to ensure that all regions benefit from improved infrastructure.