India is planning a major expansion of its high-speed road corridor network, with the government targeting the development of around 26,000 km of high-speed corridors by FY33. The programme has already moved into an advanced stage of execution, with 9,366 km of high-speed corridor projects currently under implementation as of December 2025.
“The High-Speed Corridor network expanded from 550 km in 2014 to 5,364 km by December 2025. A total network of approximately 26,000 km is targeted by FY33, with 9,366 km currently under implementation,” the Economic Survey 2025-26 said.
According to the Survey, India’s operational high-speed corridors have expanded nearly tenfold over the past decade, reflecting a shift in road infrastructure planning towards faster, access-controlled highways. The operational network includes both National and State High-Speed Corridors and forms part of the broader highways programme aimed at improving long-distance connectivity.
This expansion is taking place alongside a sharp acceleration in highway construction and spending. According to the Survey, average annual highway construction increased from 4,174 km during 2004-14 to 9,704 km during 2014-25, while capital expenditure on roads and highways rose from ₹0.53 lakh crore in FY15 to ₹3.06 lakh crore in FY26 (Budget Estimates).
The development of high-speed corridors is also being aligned with multimodal logistics planning under the PM GatiShakti framework, with emphasis on linking key economic infrastructure.
“To align freight speeds with global benchmarks, priority is accorded to highway projects linking ports, Inland Water Transport terminals, and industrial corridors to lower logistics costs,” the Survey said.
India’s roads and highways sector is moving beyond rapid network expansion towards improving logistics efficiency and integration, as high-speed corridors increasingly form the backbone of freight and passenger movement across major economic routes.
Read also : ₹16,491 crore, 464 km Raipur-Visakhapatnam corridor to cut travel time from 12 hours to 6-7 hours
