Infrastructure Push Powers India’s Growth Story
New Delhi — India’s infrastructure expansion over the past decade has become a central driver of economic growth, with major investments reshaping railways, highways, rural roads and airport connectivity across the country, according to an official factsheet issued Tuesday.
The government said the pace of infrastructure creation has accelerated since 2014, supported by a shift toward integrated planning rather than isolated project execution. Public capital expenditure has increased sharply, rising from about Rs 2 lakh crore in FY2014-15 to Rs 12.2 lakh crore in FY2026-27.
Several large national programs, including Sagarmala, Bharatmala, PM GatiShakti, PMAY, Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Ujjwala Yojana and UDAN, have been used to connect infrastructure development with household welfare, regional growth and economic opportunity.
Railway infrastructure has seen one of the biggest transformations. Budgetary support for Indian Railways has grown from about Rs 32,000 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 2.78 lakh crore in FY2026-27, nearly a nine-fold increase.
Electrification has also moved rapidly. About 20 percent of the railway network was electrified before 2014, compared with 99.6 percent by March 2026. A total of 69,873 route kilometers have been electrified, helping reduce dependence on fossil fuels, lower operating costs and improve energy efficiency.
Modern passenger rail has also expanded through the Vande Bharat program. As of April 2026, 162 Vande Bharat train services were operating across India, with 16-coach and 20-coach versions increasing capacity on key routes.
Road construction has also grown significantly. India’s road network now stands at 63.73 lakh kilometers, making it the second-largest in the world. National highways expanded from 91,287 kilometers in FY2014 to 1,46,566 kilometers by March 2026, a 61 percent increase.
The length of four-lane and above national highways rose from 18,371 kilometers in 2014 to 45,516 kilometers. The government said 3,644 kilometers of access-controlled high-speed corridors and expressways have been made operational, improving long-distance travel, freight movement and urban decongestion.
Rural connectivity has expanded under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. The program’s budgetary allocation increased from Rs 386 crore in 2014-15 to Rs 19,000 crore in 2026-27.
So far, 99.6 percent of eligible habitations have been connected under the rural roads program. Completed rural roads increased from 3.86 lakh kilometers during 2000-2014 to 4.11 lakh kilometers during 2014-2026. The number of completed bridges rose from 484 to 10,293 over the same period.
Bharatmala Pariyojana, approved in 2017, has focused on strengthening freight corridors, border roads, coastal roads and expressways. Under the program, 22,590 kilometers of roads had been completed by March 31, 2026.
Air connectivity has also widened under the UDAN scheme, launched in 2016 to make flying more accessible and affordable. As of 2026, 665 routes connected 95 airports, heliports and water aerodromes, benefiting more than 1.64 crore passengers.
The Modified UDAN scheme, launched in 2026 with an outlay of Rs 28,840 crore, aims to connect 120 additional destinations.
Airport development has included both regional expansion and major greenfield projects. Since 2014, 25 greenfield airports have been approved, including Mopa, Kannur, Hollongi, Navi Mumbai and Noida’s Jewar airport.
The government said the combined expansion of rail, road and air infrastructure is helping improve mobility, logistics and access to economic opportunities across India. (Source: IANS)
