Construction, award of highway projects at 7-year low in 2025-26

Highway construction and new project awards in 2025-26 hit a seven-year low, with less than 10,000 km built and only 7,000 km awarded. This decline is attributed to stricter land availability pre-conditions and fewer state highways being converted to National Highways. Agencies are prioritizing economic corridors and expressways to avoid project delays and cost escalations.