India Road Infrastructure Market Assessment, By Type [Bituminous Roads, Reinforced Cement Concrete, Others], By Application [National Highways, State Roads, District Roads, Rural/Village Roads], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2018-FY2032F

India road infrastructure market is projected to witness a CAGR of 9.50% during the forecast period FY2025-FY2032, growing from USD 270.50 trillion in FY2024 to USD 559.09 trillion in FY2032. The market has witnessed immense growth in recent years owing to rising demands for developing modern infrastructure, including constructing new roads and upgrading the existing road network. Due to rapid urbanization, coupled with the increasing population, the need for efficient road infrastructure is rising.

In recent years, the government of India has allocated heavy investments in road infrastructure projects like Bharatmala Pariyojana to expand the road network, expressways, economic corridors, and feeder routes. The government's focus on improving connectivity between rural and urban areas will form a crucial part of infrastructure evolution. In the forecast period, Indian road infrastructure will attract huge investment due to collaboration between the commercial and public sectors through joint ventures, coupled with an increase in FDI, which is likely to spur the development of roads across the country. Moreover, financing models, such as the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model, build-operate-transfer (BOT) model, toll-operate-transfer (TOT) model, and public-private partnerships are paving the way for more sustainable infrastructure development. Several Indian companies are working on developing the country's roads using the above models.

For instance, in March 2024, the joint venture of J. Kumar Infraprojects Limited and RPS Infraprojects Private Limited secured a letter of award (LoA) valued at USD 158.04 million for project implementation engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) model. The project involves the construction of an elevated road from the eastern freeway (Orange Gate) to the Grant Road Area in the State of Maharashtra.

Rapid Urbanization and Technological Advancements to Shape India Road Infrastructure Market

The swift progression of urbanization and technological innovation is influencing the road infrastructure market. According to World Bank reports, over 40 percent of India's population, which is approximately 600 million people, will live in urban areas by 2036. Consequently, this migration is expected to increase the demand for safer and more effective road infrastructure. With the growth in urban cities, issues with traffic congestion, pollution, and road safety have started to become a concern. In response, the government focuses on sustainable solutions and technological advancement to solve these problems. The Indian government remains keen to integrate contemporary technologies into the infrastructure by investing in smart infrastructure that works on data analytics and real-time monitoring. These measures aim to improve the conditions of roads, coupled with reducing congestion and paving the way for the relief of commuters. The government has invested in real-time sensors to monitor the condition of bridges on different parameters on national highways.

For instance, in March 2024, the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways (MoRTH) used real-time sensors to monitor the condition of bridges on national highways. These sensors would help monitor every critical parameter, such as strain, deflection, vibration, tilt, displacement, temperature, corrosion, and scour. Moreover, the project reports on highway construction will include monitoring sensors in bridges.

Huge Investments by FDI and Government to Boost India Road Infrastructure Market

India road infrastructure market is booming with significant investments from FDI and the government, which is very crucial for economic development and connectivity to the remote areas of the country. The government plans to construct and maintain national highways and state highways. According to the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set a target to lay new national highways of 50 km every day. For this, interest-free loans of USD 183.98 billion have been offered by the government, to be repaid in 50 years. The expenditure for constructing the National Highways of India has risen in FY2018-FY2023 at a CAGR of 40-45 percent. Heavy investments are being made by the Indian Government in the sector, due to which road infrastructure is going to be one of the major drivers of transport infrastructure development in India during the next 5 years. Funds allocated by the government for the development of roads have increased in the union budget.

According to the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India, in July 2024, NHAI's latest capital expenditure has increased from USD 12.36 billion to USD 24.6 billion in the last five years, which shows government's efforts to upgrade the national highways network and its infrastructures, placing the Indian road network's second largest in the world reaching 63,71,847 km across the country.

Construction of Rural Roads to Dominate India Road Infrastructure Market Share

The construction of rural roads is the utmost priority for the government due to its important role in better connectivity to rural areas. According to the Economic Survey 2022-23, in India, approximately 65% of India's population lives in rural areas, and the construction of roads encourages easy movement of goods and services, providing better connectivity to educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and employment opportunities. The government realizes the importance of rural road development and has started taking initiatives by launching schemes, such as the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), constructing all-weather roads in rural regions of states such as Chhattisgarh, Uttarakhand, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, and the North-eastern states. Thereby, as of July 2023, a total of 742,398 kilometers of rural roads has been constructed at a rate of 91 kilometers per day, costing USD 432.98 million, which has increased from 381,393 kilometers constructed at 80 kilometers per day for USD 157 million in March 2014. This, in turn, brings about higher total value for the road infrastructure market.

For instance, in August 2024, the first installment of the project fund of USD 6.92 million was released by the Ministry of Rural Development under PMGSY to the Government of Karnataka for the development of rural roads in the state.

North India to Dominate the Road Infrastructure Market Share

North dominates the share of India road infrastructure market as the government has sanctioned the highest number of projects for rural and national or state highways for the region. It includes effective planning strategies of government agencies, substantial investment, and the government's focus on infrastructure development. The increasing population in Northern India has raised the demand for proper connectivity and transport facilities by road. The government has planned to improve connectivity to small towns in North India and boost economic growth in states such as Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Uttarakhand, and Himachal Pradesh. As per the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India, the government has taken initiatives, such as the Gati Shakti Master Plan and PMGSY, in which the Union Government has sanctioned projects totaling 6,846 km at an estimated cost of USD 2.26 billion in North Indian states. In contrast, the government has sanctioned 4,723 km of roads in Southern India, covering five states. In addition, the NHAI has awarded around 90 projects worth over USD 12 million in North India, including Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, among the eight states of the Northern India. The government of Uttar Pradesh has allocated funds for the construction of expressways and rural roads in rural and urban regions in the state.

As per the List of Civil Project awarded FY2023-FY2024, in March 2024, the Uttar Pradesh government allocated 5.9% of the total expenditure on roads and bridges, which is higher than the average so far by states at 4.6%. One of the projects for which the Uttar Pradesh government has allocated funds is the 594 km Ganga Expressway, a one-six-lane greenfield access-controlled highway project with the route alignment connecting NH-334 in Meerut District with NH-2 at Prayagraj Bypass in Prayagraj district at an estimated cost of USD 4.76 billion.

Future Market Scenario (FY2025 - FY2032F)

The road infrastructure market is projected to rise due to technological advancements, growth in population, urbanization, and government spending for the betterment of road infrastructure.

In the forecast period, the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will pay special attention to the development of the national highways in the Northeast region owing to the threats posed by neighboring countries.

The government has initiated the construction of road projects on the Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) model instead of the ToT model for infrastructure projects. NHAI has successfully raised the highest-ever concession value of USD 1.86 billion through InvIT Round 3, and it is expected that the government will continue to construct projects on the InvIT model in the forecasted period.

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

The leading players in India road infrastructure market are trying to increase their market outreach and maintain fierce competition in the industry. Large firms that operate in the market have embraced crucial methods such as business expansion, agreements, joint ventures, and acquisitions. These strategies enhance their operational capabilities and allow them to tap into new infrastructure projects. Companies are investing in innovative technologies to improve construction processes, which enhances efficiency and reduces project timelines. By integrating advanced materials and methods, they can construct higher-quality roads that align with their sustainability goals. The emphasis on sustainability has prompted companies to adopt eco-friendly practices, such as using recycled materials in construction and implementing green technologies. As environmental regulations become stricter, being proactive in sustainability enhances their reputation and helps them attract funding from foreign institutions and governments. By adopting sustainable practices and technological innovations in concrete and other building materials, companies can construct road projects with significantly lower costs.

For instance, As reported in November 2023, Ambuja Cements Limited and ACC Limited have provided highly durable green concrete for the construction of the Mumbai Coastal Road Project (MCRP) to the contractor. The concrete is the high-grade green concrete RMX ACC ECOMaxX, covering the development project from Princess Street Flyover to Priyadarshini Park.