North–South and East–West Corridor

In 1998, the Government of India launched the National Highways Development Project (NHDP).^[1] The project envisaged the development of about 13,150 km (8,170 mi) of four and six lane highways at an estimated cost of ₹540 billion (equivalent to ₹2.3 trillion or US$24 billion in 2023).^[2][3] The North–South and East–West Corridor project is part of the second phase of NHDP, and involved the construction of 7,300 km (4,500 mi) of multi-lane highways connecting the major cities.^[4][5] It was intended to establish better and faster transport networks thereby reducing costs, and drive economical growth by providing better access to markets.^[2][4]

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was tasked with the implementation of the project. As per the original plan, the project was intended to be completed by 2007.^[4] As of 2001, about 675 km (419 mi) were converted to four-laned roads.^[2] Only 11% of the work was completed by December 2005 and the revised deadline was set for December 2009.^[6] However, the government informed the Parliament of India in 2009 that only 59% of the work was complete.^[7] A parlimenatry panel probe revealed that about 6,031 km (3,747 mi) of the highways were complete in 2012 and the panel further criticised NHAI for the delay in the project citing inadequate planning.^[8] As of 2017^[update], about 6,579 km (4,088 mi) of the project has been completed.^[9]

The North–South and East–West Corridor consists 7,300 km (4,500 mi) of multi-lane highways connecting major cities. It consists of two highway systems – the North–South highway extending 4,000 km (2,500 mi) from Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south with a spur to Kochi and the East–West highway extending 3,300 km (2,100 mi) from Silchar in the east to Porbandar in the west.^[1][10][11]

• Bharatmala
• Sagar Mala project
• UDAN