The central government has announced a major infrastructure initiative to construct 34 new access-controlled ring roads across Indian cities, aimed at reducing the mounting congestion on highways that pass through urban areas. The plan comes as an extension of 36 similar projects already under way, together expected to ease the movement of commuters and freight while supporting more sustainable patterns of urban growth.
Rising Congestion Beyond Metros
Highway congestion within cities, once considered a problem largely confined to metropolitan centres like Delhi and Bengaluru, has now spread to tier-two cities as well. Government data highlights this growing challenge. For example, the average speed of vehicles on highways within Madurai is recorded at just 27 kmph, compared with 55 kmph on the stretches outside the city. Such figures were presented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as clear evidence of the pressing need for dedicated bypass corridors.
The objective is to design roads that allow traffic to move efficiently at higher speeds, without being hindered by the bottlenecks created in urban stretches. According to the plan, the new corridors will be built to support travel speeds of 100–120 kmph, offering faster and safer alternatives to existing city-bound highways.
Cities Identified for Projects
Among the cities identified for new ring road projects are Kolkata, Amaravati agglomerations, Nashik, Thiruvananthapuram, Ajmer, Warangal, Mangaluru, Udaipur, and Tirunelveli. The list reflects the government’s strategy of targeting a diverse mix of metros, state capitals, and growing urban centres where highway congestion has become an obstacle to mobility and logistics.
Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, chaired a review meeting with state public works and urban development officials to discuss the initiative. The ministry emphasised that state cooperation would be crucial for timely execution, as these projects cut across multiple jurisdictions and require coordinated planning.
Development Control Measures
To ensure long-term effectiveness, the government plans to implement strict development control measures alongside the construction of the new corridors. Each ring road will include a Development Control Zone (DCZ) extending 15 metres on either side, which will only permit essential utilities and green cover. This controlled strip is intended to preserve the corridor’s functional integrity and prevent encroachment.
Beyond the DCZ, a two-kilometre regulated development buffer will also be enforced. Within this zone, new developments will be carefully controlled to minimise congestion and avoid repeating the challenges seen along existing highways where unchecked roadside construction has limited the effectiveness of bypass roads.
Financing Model and State Role
- Financing of the projects will be structured to ensure active state participation. Options under consideration include:
- States contributing 50 percent of project costs in exchange for a proportional share of toll revenues.
- State governments taking responsibility for land acquisition, which often represents one of the most significant project costs and hurdles to timely delivery.
- Adoption of land pooling schemes, where landowners contribute parcels of land for development and receive a share of the benefits.
Officials stressed that since states are the direct beneficiaries of reduced congestion and improved connectivity, their contribution is critical. By involving state governments more directly in financing and implementation, the ministry aims to avoid delays and ensure accountability.
Integration of Waste Management
A noteworthy feature of the initiative is the integration of solid waste management into highway construction. The ministry identified 15 major municipal dump sites near upcoming projects that could collectively provide around 277 lakh tonnes of inert waste. This material can be reused in embankments, reducing dependence on natural resources while simultaneously addressing the issue of urban solid waste disposal.
The move aligns with a broader push toward circular economy practices in infrastructure development, where waste materials are repurposed for construction instead of being left unused or posing environmental risks.
By combining new bypass infrastructure with regulatory controls on development and innovative construction practices, the government’s strategy goes beyond just road building. The ring roads are expected to:
- Decongest city highways, reducing travel time for commuters and freight operators.
- Enhance road safety, with access-controlled designs supporting higher and more consistent travel speeds.
- Support urban growth management, by restricting unplanned roadside construction through DCZs and buffer zones.
- Address sustainability goals, through the use of inert waste and promotion of green cover along corridors.
The plan to build 34 new ring roads signals a shift in urban transport policy that recognises the scale of highway congestion in India’s expanding cities. With 36 projects already underway, the addition of these new corridors reflects the government’s intention to systematically address traffic bottlenecks and prepare for rising vehicle numbers. However, the success of the programme will depend heavily on state cooperation in financing, land acquisition, and enforcement of development controls. If implemented effectively, the initiative could reshape urban connectivity and set a model for integrated infrastructure and urban planning across the country.
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