The multiplier impact of more expressways

Source: This post is created based on the article “The multiplier impact of more expressways”, published in Live Mint on 22^nd Feb.

News: 246-km Delhi-Dausa-Lalsot section of the Delhi-Mumbai expressway was inaugurated last week. It will reduce the travel-time between Delhi and Jaipur to three hours.

The total length of 663 NHs(National Highways) has increased from about 91,287 km in March 2014 to about 144,983 km at present.

Bharatmala Pariyojana aims to develop 34,800 km of NH corridors. As of now, 11,789 km has been completed in the project.

Significance of Delhi-Mumbai expressway

• It is expected to halve the commute time between Delhi and Mumbai.
• Infrastructure development results in multiplier-benefit for the economic regions So, it could create opportunities for logistics, storage, transport and other related industries as well.
• It will boost domestic tourism. Tourism has a multiplier impact: Gramin Haats along the expressway can provide local farmers and craftsman a new window of opportunity.
• Capital expenditure is known to have a powerful multiplier effect of approx. 2.95 times.
• It also results in social infrastructure development for people living around highways, including education, healthcare, buildings for public use, shopping complexes etc.