The share of ‘four-lane and above’ highway stretches constructed in India has reached the highest-ever level, with nearly 43% of all national highway (NH) stretches built in the financial year 2023-24 falling under this category. The construction pace has witnessed a 16% rise, with 3,297km of four-lane and above stretches constructed between April and January. The government’s focus has shifted towards building wider highways and expressways, with a three-fold increase in the annual construction rate of highways having more than four lanes compared to 2013-14. Government data reveals that the length of NHs with fewer than two lanes has reduced from 27,517km in March 2014 to 14,300km. The road transport ministry aims to increase the length of four-lane and above highways from the current 47,000km to 75,000km by 2030 and convert all NHs into at least two-laned highways within that time frame. The budgetary allocation for NH construction has significantly increased from Rs 31,130 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 2.8 lakh crore for 2024-25, supporting the rapid pace of construction.