The Indian government established "Bharatmala Pariyojana," a new umbrella initiative for the roads sector that focuses on improving the efficiency of road traffic flow across the country by bridging crucial infrastructure gaps. The project, which spans 34800 kilometers of road, will be finished in stages. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has authorized the implementation of a 5-year umbrella program for the National Highway Road Sector called "Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I." (2017-2022). This article will explain to you the Bharatmala Pariyojana which will be helpful in Geography preparation for the UPSC Civil service exam.

Bharatmala Pariyojana

• The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has conducted a thorough study of the NH network and has approved overall investment for the construction of about 34,800 km (including 10,000 km of residual NHDP segments) at a cost of Rs 5,35,000 crore.
• Its primary goal is to improve the efficiency of freight and passenger transit across the country by closing significant infrastructural gaps.
• Bharatmala Pariyojana also ushered in a new era of technology-driven highway construction in the country by deploying automated traffic surveys as well as satellite mapping and images to identify corridor up-gradation requirements.
• However, according to ICRA Limited, Phase-I is likely to be postponed by four years because of the current uncertainty caused by Covid-19 and its influence on values.
• ICRA Limited is professional and impartial investment information and credit rating agency based in India.
• By 2024, Phase II will have around 48,000 km of road network across India.

Bharatmala Pariyojana - Objectives

• To improve the efficiency of freight and passenger transit throughout the country by bridging significant infrastructure gaps with efficient interventions.
• Economic corridors, inter corridors and feeder routes, national corridor efficiency enhancement, border, and international connectivity roads, coastal and port connectivity roads, and greenfield expressways are among the beneficial solutions.
• Economic Corridors: These are interconnected infrastructural networks within a geographical area that are meant to boost economic growth.
• Greenfield Projects: They are free of the limits imposed by previous activity on the site.
• Typically, it requires building on a completely empty site, with architects starting from scratch.
• Brownfield projects have limits due to the present state of the land, which may be polluted or include existing structures that architects must take down or alter in some manner before the project can continue forward.
• To create a significant number of direct and indirect job opportunities in the building and infrastructure sectors, as well as part of the increased economic activity brought about by improved road connections throughout the country.
• National highway links will be built to connect 550 districts across the country.

Bharatmala Pariyojana - Features

• The creation of Multimodal Logistics Parks and the removal of chokepoints would improve the efficiency of current routes.
• Multimodal Logistics Parks are an important policy effort of the Indian government to enhance the country's logistics industry by lowering total freight costs, reducing vehicle pollution and congestion, and lowering storage expenses.
• A chokepoint is a single point where all incoming and outgoing network traffic is routed, causing congestion and traffic.
• Increase emphasis on enhancing connections in the North East and capitalizing on synergies with inland waterways.
• The use of scientific and technical planning for project preparation and asset monitoring is emphasized.
• Corridors are being mapped using satellites to determine what needs to be upgraded.
• Delegation of authority to accelerate project delivery in order to complete Phase I by 2022.

Bharatmala Pariyojana - Project Components

• Economic Corridor - According to the road-building project rules, the federal government will construct 9000 kilometers of Economic Corridors.
• Feeder Route or Inter Corridor - The overall length of the highways classified as Feeder Route or Inter Corridor is 6000 kilometers.
• National Corridor Efficiency Improvement - 5000 km of roads built under the program would fall under the category of National Corridor for greater road connectivity.
• Border Road and International Connectivity - In order to connect cities and isolated communities located in border regions, the project has made provision for the construction of 2000kms of highways classified as Border Road or International Connectivity.
• Port Connectivity and Coastal Road - The national government has authorized the construction of 2000km of highways to connect the areas sprinkled around the shorelines and significant ports.
• Green Field Expressway - The major emphasis will be on the building and development of the Green Field Expressway for better traffic and freight management.
• Balance NHDP Works - The last part of the project will involve the building and maintenance of about 10,000 kilometers of new roads.

Bharatmala Pariyojana - Significance

• The Bharatmala project aims to improve the efficiency of the National Corridor, which includes the Golden Quadrilateral and the North, South, East, and West corridors, by decongesting choke points through the construction of elevated corridors, bypasses, ring roads, lane expansion, and logistics parks at strategic locations.
• The project plan calls for the development of key border roads along international borders, as well as international connectivity roads, to increase commerce with Myanmar, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal.
• The initiative has identified about 26,200 kilometers of Economic Corridors or routes with high freight traffic.
• The initiative is to build the specified Economic Corridors with substantial freight traffic from beginning to end to provide smooth, quick travel and standardization.
• Feeder Corridors will be built to solve infrastructure imbalance in numerous regions.
• All Bharatmala-funded projects must be evaluated technically, fiscally, and economically by an authorized Project Appraisal & Technical Scrutiny Committee, which will be established at the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).

Bharatmala Pariyojana - Challenges

• The Bharatmala project was launched in 2017 with a completion date of 2022.
• However, recent reports indicate that the project is nowhere near completion because of higher land costs and an increase in the project's planned budget.
• The Central Government is currently searching for greater investments from market funds and any other private investment.
• If the anticipated budget is not fulfilled, the government plans to auction finished motorway projects or possibly delve into international loan and bond markets.

Conclusion

The project will contribute to the creation of a substantial number of direct and indirect construction jobs. The growth of highway facilities, as well as increased economic activity in many sections of the country as a result of improved road connections. This project will contribute to the country's economic growth by boosting the corridors from 6 to 50. The Central Government intends to enhance trade, improve the state of National Highways, and expand the country's road network through the Bharatmala Project.

FAQs

Question. What is the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

Question. What are the main objectives of the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

Question. How does the Bharatmala Pariyojana aim to improve infrastructure?

Question. What is the scope of the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

Question. What are the key features of the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

MCQs

1. What is the main focus of the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

A) Development of rural roads

B) Urban road improvement

C) Enhancing national highway connectivity and logistics efficiency

D) Railway expansion

2. How many kilometers of roads are planned to be developed under the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

A) 20,000 km

B) 25,000 km

C) 30,000 km

D) 34,800 km

3. Which of the following is a primary objective of the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

A) Providing public transport services

B) Creating economic corridors and improving border road connectivity

C) Developing rural agricultural infrastructure

D) Expanding educational facilities

4. Which of the following sectors is directly supported by the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

A) Tourism

B) Agriculture

C) Infrastructure and logistics

D) Healthcare

5. Which of the following is one of the components of the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

A) Improvement of rural road networks only

B) Upgrading only urban roads

C) Development of economic corridors, intercorridors, and feeder routes

D) Expansion of airways

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Analyze the potential impact of the Bharatmala Pariyojana on India’s economy.

Answer: The Bharatmala Pariyojana is poised to have a profound impact on India’s economy by enhancing the country’s road infrastructure, particularly through the development of economic corridors and logistical hubs. By improving connectivity between major industrial centers, ports, and border areas, the project is expected to significantly reduce transportation costs, leading to increased trade and economic efficiency. The development of these roads will also foster regional development, particularly in remote areas, by providing better access to goods and services. Additionally, the project will improve the mobility of goods and people, contributing to the growth of key industries such as manufacturing, tourism, and agriculture. The construction of greenfield expressways and border road projects will enhance both national security and defense logistics. Furthermore, by focusing on eco-friendly technologies, the project aims to reduce the environmental footprint of road development, ensuring sustainable growth. Overall, the Bharatmala Pariyojana is expected to be a significant driver of economic growth, efficiency, and regional equity.

Q2: Discuss the role of the Bharatmala Pariyojana in reducing India's logistics cost.

Answer: The Bharatmala Pariyojana plays a critical role in reducing India's logistics cost by addressing key bottlenecks in transportation infrastructure. With the development of economic corridors, the project will create smoother and more efficient connections between manufacturing hubs and ports, reducing delays and transit times. Efficient road networks will also ensure quicker movement of goods across states and regions, minimizing transportation costs. The project’s focus on border connectivity will help streamline the movement of goods between India and neighboring countries, enhancing cross-border trade. Moreover, the emphasis on developing multi-modal transportation systems will allow seamless integration between rail, road, and ports, reducing dependency on a single mode of transport and ensuring a cost-effective, time-efficient system. The Bharatmala Pariyojana is also expected to contribute to the development of a robust logistics infrastructure, thus reducing the logistics cost from the current 13-14% of GDP to more globally competitive levels, similar to that of developed nations.

Q3: Examine the challenges in the implementation of the Bharatmala Pariyojana.

Answer: The Bharatmala Pariyojana faces several challenges that could impact its effective implementation. These include:

• Land acquisition issues: One of the significant hurdles in the development of large-scale infrastructure projects is acquiring land, especially in densely populated and environmentally sensitive areas.
• Environmental concerns: Large infrastructure projects often face resistance from environmentalists and local communities, especially when roads pass through protected forests and wildlife sanctuaries. Ensuring sustainable development while meeting environmental regulations is a critical challenge.
• Funding: The estimated cost of the Bharatmala Pariyojana is substantial, and securing adequate funding from both public and private sectors is a potential challenge, particularly in times of economic uncertainty.
• Coordination among stakeholders: Given the scale of the project, coordination between the central government, state governments, and private contractors is essential. Delays due to bureaucratic hurdles or lack of timely cooperation could hinder progress.
• Political will and stability: As with any large-scale project, political stability and support are vital for the timely execution of the project. Changes in leadership or policy can affect the continuity of the project’s progress.

Previous Year Questions on Bharatmala Pariyojana

1. UPSC 2020

Question: "Evaluate the role of Bharatmala Pariyojana in strengthening India’s transport infrastructure."

Answer: This question required candidates to assess how Bharatmala Pariyojana strengthens India's transportation system, particularly in terms of enhancing economic corridors and border connectivity, and its impact on the overall economy and logistics.

2. UPSC 2019

Question: "Discuss the potential challenges faced by the Bharatmala Pariyojana in terms of environmental concerns and land acquisition."

Answer: This question asked candidates to evaluate the environmental challenges and land acquisition issues that could hinder the smooth implementation of the Bharatmala Pariyojana, and how these challenges might be addressed in the project.