NT Verdict
Partially True
The Claim Being Checked
“India is constructing national highways at 50 km per day”
Said by
Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari
Union Cabinet Minister, Road Transport & Highways
Where
NITI Aayog Infrastructure Investment Summit
When
Jan 27, 2026
NT Verdict
Partially True
The claim contains accurate elements but lacks important context.
What NT Found
MoRTH data shows NH construction averaged 34.7 km/day in FY25 — down from a peak of 37.7 km/day in FY23. The 50 km/day figure conflates 'length awarded for construction contracts' with 'length actually completed'. A CAG 2025 review identifies land acquisition delays as the primary bottleneck.
How We Verified This
Step 1 — Claim Flagged
Claim attributed to Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari (Union Cabinet Minister, Road Transport & Highways) via NITI Aayog Infrastructure Investment Summit on Jan 27, 2026. Assigned to fact-checker Priya Joshi for verification.
Evidence 1
MoRTH Annual Report FY25: 12,687 km NH constructed = 34.7 km/day
Evidence 2
FY23 peak: 13,491 km = 37.7 km/day — declining trend since then
Evidence 3
FY24 figure revised down to 11,950 km = 32.7 km/day
Evidence 4
50 km/day figure reflects 'awarded contracts', not physical completion
Evidence 5
NITI Aayog NIP report uses composite award+completion measure — methodology differs
Evidence 6
CAG 2025: 38% of highway projects delayed due to land acquisition issues
Final Verdict
Partially True — The claim contains accurate elements but lacks important context.
Sources Consulted
4 sourcesMoRTH Annual Report 2024-25
official
NITI Aayog National Infrastructure Pipeline Progress Report
official
CAG Performance Audit of NHAI 2025
database
Economic Times: Highway construction data analysis
media
How we verified this: NT fact-checkers consulted primary government data, independent surveys, and expert analyses. All verdicts undergo a two-editor review before publication. We link every claim to a primary source — not summaries or secondary reporting. Read our full methodology →
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