The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) organized a State Consultation Conference on 3rd September 2025 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. The meeting, chaired by Union Minister Shri Nitin Gadkari and attended by Ministers of State Shri Ajay Tamta and Shri Harsh Malhotra, brought together representatives from States and Union Territories to share their views on key policy initiatives under finalization by the Central Government. These policies are set to play a crucial role in advancing highway infrastructure and promoting integrated urban planning across India.
One of the major proposals discussed was the Urban Decongestion Policy, designed to ease traffic on National Highways passing through cities with populations above one lakh. The policy envisions developing ring roads, bypasses, and elevated corridors, closely aligned with urban master plans to ensure balanced growth. Innovative financing models, including cost-sharing and Value Capture Financing, are expected to accelerate project implementation.
The Ministry also highlighted its initiative to utilize inert waste from urban landfills in highway construction. This approach, already tested in projects like Delhi’s UER-II and the Ahmedabad–Dholera Expressway, reduces reliance on natural soil, cuts costs, and addresses the challenge of solid waste management. Around 15 major dump sites containing nearly half of India’s 1,200 lakh MT legacy waste have been identified, with plans to link them to upcoming NH projects through municipal partnerships.
Another key discussion focused on the State Road Development Policy, which seeks to support States in upgrading high-traffic State Highways to four lanes or more. The policy proposes a cost-sharing framework between the Centre and States, along with Public-Private Partnership (PPP) models to enhance regional connectivity and reduce travel time.
In addition, the Ministry proposed amendments to the National Highways Act, 1956, to simplify land acquisition, ensure fair compensation, and strengthen dispute resolution. Greater enforcement under the Control of National Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002, including delegation of powers to District Magistrates, was also emphasized to prevent encroachments and ensure smooth project execution.
Senior MoRTH officials, along with representatives from the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, gave detailed presentations on the proposed policies. State and UT officials contributed feedback on regional priorities and challenges, ensuring that the policies, once finalized, will be practical, inclusive, and responsive to ground realities.
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