The central government has unveiled plans to construct 34 new access-controlled ring roads across Indian cities in an effort to ease growing traffic congestion on highways that pass through urban areas. The initiative will supplement 36 similar projects already in progress and is expected to provide significant relief to commuters and freight movement within city limits.
Traffic congestion on highways inside cities, once confined mainly to metros such as Delhi and Bengaluru, has now become widespread in tier-two cities as well. According to government data, the average speed of vehicles on highways within Madurai drops to 27 kmph, compared with 55 kmph on stretches outside the city. The ministry highlighted such cases as evidence of the need for bypass corridors designed to maintain higher travel speeds.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has prepared a detailed roadmap and is seeking cooperation from state governments to expedite the projects. The proposed corridors will be designed for travel speeds of 100–120 kmph, providing faster and safer alternatives to existing congested roads. Cities identified for new projects include Kolkata, Amaravati agglomerations, Nashik, Thiruvananthapuram, Ajmer, Warangal, Mangaluru, Udaipur, and Tirunelveli.
Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari chaired a review meeting where state public works and urban development officials were briefed about the initiative. To ensure long-term effectiveness, the ring roads will include a Development Control Zone (DCZ) extending 15 metres on either side of the corridor, permitting only utilities and green cover. Beyond this zone, a two-kilometre regulated development buffer will be enforced to prevent future encroachment and congestion.
Financing for the projects will involve active state participation. Options under consideration include states covering half of the project cost in return for a share of toll revenue, taking responsibility for land acquisition, or supporting schemes through land pooling. Officials underlined that since states are the direct beneficiaries, they must contribute resources to ensure timely implementation.
The ministry also proposed integrating waste management into highway construction. Fifteen major municipal dump sites located near upcoming projects could provide approximately 277 lakh tonnes of inert waste for use in embankments, potentially addressing both solid waste challenges and infrastructure needs.
By combining new bypass infrastructure with regulatory controls on roadside development, the government aims to not only decongest city highways but also support sustainable long-term urban growth.
