Govt misses FY26 highway target as land acquisition delays throttle road building pace

Land acquisition and clearances slowed the slowest rollout in years

Highway construction in the last fiscal year hit 9,380 km, missing the 10,000 km target and marking the slowest pace since 2017-18. The government cited delays in land acquisition and securing necessary clearances, alongside a sharp drop in awarding new highway projects. Together, these factors stretched timelines and reduced the pace of work nationwide.