Ministry weighs fenced-off highways within easy reach

Vision 2047 programme to include access-controlled highways within 100km of starting point

- Subhash Narayan

India will have a wide network of fenced-off highways and expressways in the next 10-15 years that will allow commuters to get on to them by travelling no more than 100 km from wherever they begin their journey, a top road ministry official said.

According to road transport and highways secretary Anuraj Jain, the ministry is finalizing a new Vision 2047 programme, with a focus on building an extensive network of greenfield “access-controlled" expressways.

The network of roads will provide smoother and faster connectivity, especially along the economic corridors, border regions and far-flung areas, and help reduce the logistics cost in the country.

Access-controlled roads are fenced off with railings along their length, so no one can enter them randomly. Not all highways in India are fenced off— many are allowed to run through towns and cities without any barriers on the two sides.