Page 17 - TT mag Sept 2025 Digital Edition

INFRASTRUCTURE

During ‘Bharatmala operational airports has doubled
Pariyojana’, India’s road from 74 (2014) to 160 (2025)
network became the second adding 625 new air routes,
largest in the world at more potentially reshaping travel in
than 63 lakh kms. Further, India. With passenger traffic
while the length of national expected to double to 500 Mn/
highways increased by 60% annum by 2030, around 50
(2014-2025), the average pace new airports are expected to
of highway construction trebled be built, and the aircraft fleet
from 12 Kms/day to 37 Kms/ size is forecasted to treble from
day in merely six years (2014- 700 to 2,000. Digi Yatra, a
2020), with a target of 50 Kms/ biometric-focused initiative, has
day in the near future. already been rolled out across
24 major airports. Moreover,
Not only this, the Ministry of
Roads Transport and Highways the clear aviation skies are
is taking significant steps to also providing an impetus to
reduce the country’s energy aerospace component and
import bill and promote drone manufacturing, apart
sustainability by aiming to from fuelling demand for the
achieve 30% electric vehicles MRO industry.
adoption by 2030. It also With a target of moving
revolutionised ease of travel by 34 Mn passengers/day and
introducing its electronic toll transporting 9 Mn tons freight/
collection program, FASTag, day by 2030, Indian Railways
which has achieved a staggering has quintupled the average
4.2 Bn transactions mopping up pace of commissioning
USD 8.5 Bn in 2024-25 (double new lines (2024 versus the
from 2021-22 numbers). period 2009-14). It has also
The sector has also witnessed undertaken new marquee
some of India’s engineering projects such as Dedicated
marvels including the Atal Freight Corridors (96%
Tunnel (world’s longest completed) and High-Speed
highway above 10,000 feet), Rail, while implementing
Bogibeel Bridge (India’s longest Kavach, an indigenously
rail cum road bridge), and the developed train anti-collision
Maitri Setu - “India’s Gateway system of the highest order.
of North-East”, connecting The national transporter is
difficult terrains in the country. also on a fast track to enhance
A flagship the Delhi-Mumbai passenger experience through
Expressway is aimed at a host of measures – inducting
reducing travel time between more than 100 new Made in
the two cities by 50%.
India, semi-high speed Vande
Fuelled by a growing working Bharat trains, revamping 1,300
class and middle class, India has stations under the Amrit Bharat
emerged as the third largest Station Scheme, installing Wi-Fi
domestic aviation market in at 6,000 railway stations, and
the world. The government’s streamlining its ticket booking
Regional Connectivity Scheme portal (IRCTC). Indian Railways
‘UDAN – Ude Desh Ka Aam has successfully developed
Naagrik’ has been instrumental two architectural wonders -
in giving wings to the zealot the world’s tallest rail bridge
Indian population by connecting (Chenab Bridge) and India’s first
the aspirational Tier II and vertical lift rail sea bridge (New
Tier III cities. The number of Pamban Bridge).

www.trafficinfratech.com • TrafficInfraTech • SEPTEMBER 2025 17