Union minister Nitin Gadkari has long sold the dream of world-class roads as India’s ticket to a $5 trillion economy. On paper, there’s progress: the national highway network expanded 59% in a decade, from 91,287 km in 2013 to 1,45,240 km in 2023. But reality on the ground tells a different story — one of potholes, corruption, and tragedy.
1. Longer Highways, Same Old Death Traps
India’s road length may have grown, but so have the accidents. With 1.5 lakh+ people killed in road accidents every year, india holds the dubious title of leading the world in road deaths. What use are “expressways” if they end in hospital wards?
2. World-Class Asphalt, Third-Class Maintenance
Freshly inaugurated stretches look shiny — until monsoon arrives. Potholes swallow tyres, cars, and sometimes lives. If this is “world-class,” then our roads have achieved Olympic-level ability in crumbling.
3. Corruption in the Fast Lane
Behind every glossy ribbon-cutting lies a shadow of inflated contracts, cost overruns, and substandard materials. Audit reports repeatedly highlight siphoning of funds. Yet, accountability gets buried faster than a pothole patch.
4. Family business Booming
While the public suffers, Gadkari’s son-linked firms have reportedly bagged contracts worth over $200 million. Is “nation-building” just another name for “dynasty-building”?
5. The $5 Trillion Mirage
Gadkari once said world-class infrastructure will power India’s leap to a $5T economy. But how do you get there when trucks overturn on cratered highways, ambulances are stuck in jams, and logistics bleed efficiency? The vision looks good on PowerPoint, less so on the pavement.
🚧 Bottomline
Yes, the roads are longer. Yes, the numbers look good. But ask the daily commuter dodging potholes or the families of 1.5 lakh accident victims each year — and “world-class” feels like a cruel joke. Gadkari may have built highways, but he hasn’t built trust.
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