Why in news?
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted raids on December 29, 2025, across nine locations in Chhattisgarh's Raipur and Mahasamund districts, probing money laundering linked to irregularities in land acquisition compensation for the Bharatmala project.
About Bharatmala Pariyojna
- Launch Year: 2015 under the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
- Objective: Improve freight efficiency, connect remote and border areas, and expand national corridors.
- Scale: Over 83,000 km of highways planned, with Phase I covering 34,800 km.
- Budget: Approx. ₹10.63 lakh crore investment.
- Key Focus Areas:
- Economic corridors (26,000 km)
- Inter-corridors (8,000 km)
- Feeder routes (7,500 km)
- Border & coastal roads
- Integration with Sagarmala (port-led development)
Key Features
- Expansion of Corridors: From 6 national corridors to 50 corridors, ensuring smoother freight movement.
- District Connectivity: Interlinking 550 district headquarters with 4-lane highways (currently ~300).
- Logistics Boost: Connecting 24 logistics parks and multiple multimodal hubs.
- Travel Efficiency: Example – Raipur–Visakhapatnam Economic Corridor (465 km, 6-lane expressway) will cut travel time from 12 hours to 5 hours
Importance
- Economic Growth: Faster freight movement reduces logistics costs, boosting trade and industry.
- Strategic Security: Better border roads strengthen defense preparedness.
- Regional Equity: Connects underserved areas, promoting inclusive development.
- Urban-Rural Integration: Enhances accessibility for villages, towns, and ports.
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