India’s Infrastructure Revolution under the Modi Government

Over the past decade, India has embarked on a sweeping infrastructure transformation—redefining roads, railways, ports, urban facilities, and digital systems. Let’s unpack the scale, impact, and future potential of this ambitious overhaul.

1. Roads and Highways: A Record Expansion

• Road Infrastructure Spending
  Central investment in road infrastructure soared 6.4× between 2013–14 and 2024–25, while the road transport and highways budget surged 570%.
• National Highway Construction
  Daily highway construction improved dramatically—from 11.6 km/day in 2013–14 to about 34 km/day in 2025.
• Expansion of National Highways
  Led by Nitin Gadkari, India’s National Highway network grew 60% over a decade from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,195 km in 2024, making it the world’s second-largest network. High-speed corridor length jumped 2,560%; 4-lane highways doubled from 18,278 km to 45,947 km.
• Bharatmala Pariyojana
  Launched in 2015, this mega-project aims to interconnect 550 district headquarters, augment freight movement capacity, and integrate logistics infrastructure. It has subsumed earlier highway schemes and remains among the largest road projects in India.

2. Rural Connectivity: Bridging the Habitational Gaps

• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
  Since 2014, around 3.74 lakh km of rural roads have been constructed, totalling 7.55 lakh km by 2024–25, up from just 3.81 lakh km in 2013–14. Over 99% of rural habitations are now connected.

3. Railways: Modernizing Stations & Speed

• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
  Launched in 2023 to redevelop 1,275 railway stations, with 103 modernized stations across 18 states inaugurated by May 2025. The initiative boosts aesthetic and functional upgrades nationwide.
• Rail Transport Projects
  Investments continue heavily in station infrastructure and high-speed services like Vande Bharat, which is set to see 400 new units in the next three years and 200 station remodels. 30,000Kms of rail track was added between 2014-2024, this is equal to the entire rail network of Germany.
• Rail Electrification
  As of March 2025, approximately 68,700 km of railway routes 98.83% of India’s 69,512 km long broad-gauge network, are electrified making Indian railways the most electrified network in the world. Before 2014, around 20% of India’s rail network was electrified.
• Drastic reduction in Rail Accidents
  Indian Railways switched completely to LHB coaches which are designed to minimise casualties in the case of an accident. LHB coaches, along with other safety measures like the implementation of electronic signalling, has drastically reduced rail accidents and resulting casualties. The number of people who passed away in Rail accidents between 2004-2014 was 2,453. This was part of a total of 1,711 train accidents that occurred during that period. In comparison, between 2014-2024, 748 people went died in 678 train accidents.
• Dedicated Freight Corridors
  Difficulties in freight movement are the primary factor holding back the development of the landlocked states of India. Modi government has championed the construction of a network of dedicated freight corridors criss-crossing the country. Two freight corridors, namely the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) and Western Dedicated Freight Corridor (WDFC), are already operational. EDFC and WDFC are playing a crucial role in speeding GDP development in the landlocked state of Uttar Pradesh, which has emerged as one of India’s fastest-growing states in recent years.

4. Ports & Waterways: The Sagarmala Push

• Sagarmala Programme
  Designed to enhance port-led logistics, the program includes 839 projects under five pillars—port modernization, connectivity, industrialization, community development, and water transport. A sizable share is complete or under execution, focusing on reducing logistical costs and integrating coastal economies.
• Construction of India’s first deep water port
  Vizinjam transhipment terminal situated at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala just 12 nautical miles from major shipping land and with a natural draft of 20m is India’s first deep water port capable of berthing very large cargo ships, known as mother ships. Vizinjam port has already played host to MSC Irina, the world’s largest container ship by capacity. The lack of deep-water ports used to cost India 1000s of crores in losses each year.
• Massive Growth in Cargo Handling
  Containerised cargo handling saw a massive 70% increase over the decade from 7.9 million TEUs in FY 2014-15 to 13.5 million TEUs in FY 2024-25. Conventional commodities like coal, fertilizers, iron ore, and petroleum products also witnessed significant growth over the last 10 years.

5. National Infrastructure Pipeline & Investments

• Capital Outlay 2025–26
  The Union Budget allocates ₹11.21 lakh crore (~$128.6 billion) to infrastructure—about 3.1% of GDP.
• Planned Investments by 2025
  The National Infrastructure Pipeline is targeting USD 1.4 trillion in investments across energy, transportation, urban development, and more.
• Next Wave of Infrastructure
  Expected investment of ₹17.5 lakh crore (~$205 billion) in renewables, roads, and real estate during Modi’s third term.

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6. Urban Infrastructure & Quality of Life

• Ease of Living Impact
  Infrastructure growth in railways, highways, ports, and airports is increasing prosperity and accessibility across urban India. PM Modi credited this revolution for laying the foundation of a “self‑reliant India.”
• Economic Corridors
  Numerous industrial and freight corridors, like the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC), are changing logistics and driving urban-industrial synergies.

7. Smart & Social Infrastructure

• Har Ghar Jal (Tap‑Water Mission)
  Aims to provide 55 liters of potable water per capita daily to every rural home by 2024. Budgeted at ₹3.6 lakh crore, with GOI contributing ₹2.08 lakh crore. Several states like Goa have achieved full coverage. In 2019, only 17% of India’s rural households had water connection, today that number of over 80% thanks to Jal Jeevan Mission.
• Setu Bharatam Initiative
  Launched in 2016 to eliminate all railway level crossings on national highways by building 208 ROBs/RUBs and upgrading 1,500 old bridges—estimated cost around ₹20,800 crore.
• Swacch Bharat Mission
  The United Nations has called SBM the world’s largest sanitation programme. By building over 110 million toilets in rural areas and 72 lakh in urban areas SBM has advanced Bharat towards universal sanitation coverage. Six Lakh villages and 36 States/UTs are now Open Defecation Free (ODF). It has changed the global narrative of India as an “open defecation capital.” Waste processing has increased to 75% in 2023 from 18% in 2014. WHO credited SBM for significantly reducing health burdens linked to poor sanitation.

8. Aviation & Sectoral Investments

• Aviation Spend
  Indian aviation sector is the fastest-growing aviation sector in the world today, showing the growing affluence of the Indian people. Between FY 2019–20 and FY 2024–25, the aviation sector investment crossed ₹96,000 crore, enhancing airport and connectivity infrastructure. India more than doubled the number of airports in the last 10 years under the UDAAN scheme. In 2014, there were just 74 airports in operation. By 2024, that number had more than doubled to 159 airports. A large number of airports were also expanded, with new runways and terminals being added across the country.

9. Driving Economic & Social Equity

• Tier‑II and Beyond
  Projects focused on urban clusters and smart cities are bringing infrastructure to emerging hubs, enhancing job access and quality of life.
• Investment Inclusion
  Third‑term plans include continued infrastructure investment along key corridors, with ₹10 lakh crore expected investment in the urban sector over four years.

10. What Lies Ahead

India’s infrastructure push under Modi has modernised the nation—connectivity, institutional coordination via PM Gati Shakti ($1.3 trillion plan), and investment flows ensure momentum continues.

Highways, ports, railways, aviation, rural roads, and social utilities have seen record progress.

Bottom Line

India’s infrastructure under Modi is not just construction; it’s a structural transformation. Backed by policy reforms, scaling investments, and integrated planning, the country is building connectivity, prosperity, and resilience. The infrastructure revolution is central to India’s journey towards economic power and inclusive growth.