<p>New Delhi: India is expected to maintain current road construction momentum, adding up to 13,000 kilometres in the 12 months through March 2025, an annual increase of 5-8 per cent, ICRA, the Indian arm of the Fitch ratings agency said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Since PM Narendra Modi took office in 2014, India has built about 90,000 kilometres of national highway, almost double that constructed in the previous decade, according to government estimates.</p>.<p>Modi is hailing road infrastructure as a major achievement in a general election campaign ahead of the start of voting on Friday.</p>.<p>Capital expenditure on roads increased to Rs 2.4 trillion in 2022/23 from Rs 510 billion in 2013/14.</p>.<p>After a slow start last year due to heavy rains in parts of the country, road construction has accelerated since September, with momentum likely to continue, ICRA said in a statement.</p>.<p>"The pace of execution in this fiscal year will be supported by a healthy pipeline of projects, increased capital outlay by the government and focus on completion of projects," ICRA said.</p>.<p>At more than 45,000 km, the government's project award pipeline remained healthy, despite a delay in cabinet approvals for revised cost estimates, said Vinay Kumar, vice president and sectoral head, corporate ratings, ICRA.</p>.<p>The government this month delayed a proposed hike in road toll charges for about two months, offering temporary relief to millions of motorists, truckers and commercial vehicle owners.</p>.<p>Nitin Gadkari, India's road transport minister, has set a target of building more than 35 kilometres of roads per day in the current fiscal year.</p>
<p>New Delhi: India is expected to maintain current road construction momentum, adding up to 13,000 kilometres in the 12 months through March 2025, an annual increase of 5-8 per cent, ICRA, the Indian arm of the Fitch ratings agency said on Tuesday.</p>.<p>Since PM Narendra Modi took office in 2014, India has built about 90,000 kilometres of national highway, almost double that constructed in the previous decade, according to government estimates.</p>.<p>Modi is hailing road infrastructure as a major achievement in a general election campaign ahead of the start of voting on Friday.</p>.<p>Capital expenditure on roads increased to Rs 2.4 trillion in 2022/23 from Rs 510 billion in 2013/14.</p>.<p>After a slow start last year due to heavy rains in parts of the country, road construction has accelerated since September, with momentum likely to continue, ICRA said in a statement.</p>.<p>"The pace of execution in this fiscal year will be supported by a healthy pipeline of projects, increased capital outlay by the government and focus on completion of projects," ICRA said.</p>.<p>At more than 45,000 km, the government's project award pipeline remained healthy, despite a delay in cabinet approvals for revised cost estimates, said Vinay Kumar, vice president and sectoral head, corporate ratings, ICRA.</p>.<p>The government this month delayed a proposed hike in road toll charges for about two months, offering temporary relief to millions of motorists, truckers and commercial vehicle owners.</p>.<p>Nitin Gadkari, India's road transport minister, has set a target of building more than 35 kilometres of roads per day in the current fiscal year.</p>