Page 38 - NIS English 1-15 June, 2026

Cover Story

Years
of Vikas Yatra

Strengthening Maritime Infra-

India Now Has the World’s structure
Second-Largest Road Network Notified National Waterways
Increased from 5 in 2014 to 111 in 2026.
The length of access- Number of Indian-Flagged Ships/Vessels
controlled National High-Speed Increased from 1,250 in 2014 to 1,593 in 2026.
National Highway Network Expanded 91,287 km 1,46,572 km reached 3,052 km, up from just Increased from 873 MMTPPA (Million Metric Tonnes
Corridors/Expressways has
Major Port Capacity Nearly Doubled
93 km in 2014.
Per Annum) in 2014 to 1,726 MMTPA in 2026.
Under the Bharatmala Pariyojana,
22,223 km of National Highways
were constructed as of February
2026, while 26,425 km have been
sanctioned.
March 2014 February 2026

Railways: Cleaner, Safer, and Faster
n Budgetary support for the Railways has increased
ninefold; from ₹32,000 crore in 2014-15, it rose to Today, work on mega-projects is
₹2.78 lakh crore in 2025-26. progressing at a rapid pace across the
Stations are being redeveloped under the country. If you look to the North, the
‘
1,338 Amrit Bharat Station Scheme,’ with work
completed on over 200 stations. Prime Minister Naren- Chenab Bridge—one of the world’s
dra Modi inaugurated 119 stations in 2025–26. highest railway bridges—has been
139 162 Vande Bharat constructed in Jammu & Kashmir.
If you head West, the Atal Setu—
train

Terminals commissioned under PM services launched, with a the country’s longest sea bridge—
Gati Shakti; approval has been granted target of 4,500 train sets. has been built in Mumbai. And if
for the development of new terminals By 2030, 800 trains are you travel East, you will witness
at 300 additional locations. projected to be operational. the Bogibeel Bridge in Assam. In
n The Vande Bharat Sleeper service launched on the the South, the construction of the
Guwahati–Howrah route in January 2026; plans are in
place to start 260 train sets of Vande Bharat Sleeper trains. Pamban Bridge—one of the world’s

n With the completion of the 51-kilometer-long Bairabi–Sairang select vertical lift bridges—has been
railway line, Mizoram is now connected to rail network. completed. Work on the country’s

n On January 22, 2026, the first full freight train— first bullet train is progressing
comprising 42 wagons and carrying 2,768 metric tonnes rapidly.
of rice—arrived in Anantnag. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister
n Seven new high-speed rail corridors will be developed. A
network spanning approximately 4,000 km will be created.
Investments worth ₹16 lakh crore are expected.

36 NEW INDIA SAMACHAR || June 1-15, 2026