The National Highways Authority of India is faced with the arduous task of constructing more than 50 km of highway per day in five months to complete the target 12,000 km in FY23 after the pace of construction slowed in the first seven months of the year, so that only a third of the target has been achieved.

Between April and October, NHAI was able to manage only 4,060 km of state highways, compared to 4,450 km built during the same period of the pandemic-ravaged FY22, a decrease of about 8.8%.

According to the latest data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, although construction faltered this year, project awarding has gained momentum. However, the numbers have remained the same at 5,007 km.

In April-October of FY22, NHAI was able to allocate approximately 4,913 km of highways.

While the government has not given any reason for the weak performance this year, a ministry official said disruptions due to Covid's omicron wave and a prolonged monsoon prevented NHAI from completing its target 12,000 km last year, and the trend appears to have continued this year.

Nevertheless, the ministry still hopes to reach the 12,000 km mark. Agencies have already been asked to ramp up construction and that the government has enough money to complete roads at an accelerated pace.

"Road works in the first half are generally slow, but we hope that this activity will now be faster, as it was before, and that the goalposts will be reached," said an official.