CLAIM
A message doing the rounds on social media lists the length of national highway network constructed under the UPA government, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure and incumbent prime minister Narendra Modi’s government. Several social media users have shared the message with a similar narrative on Twitter and Facebook.
TRUE OR FALSE?
Claim 1: “29,023 Km : In 33 Years Before 1980”
Fact: According to a report by the research wing of Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Transport (MORTH), at the end of 1981, the length of national highway network was 31,671 km.
Claim 2: “10,279 Km : 1980 - 1998”
Fact: As per the aforementioned report, in 1980, the national highway network expanded to 31,671 km. The network further expanded to 49,585 km in 1999, IndiaSpend reported, citing NHAI data which is now inaccessible. A simple subtraction results in 17,914 km.
Claim 3: “23,814 Km : 'Atal Bihari Vajpayee' Tenure”
Fact: As per IndiaSpend’s figures, the national highway network expanded from 49,585 km in 1999 to 65,569 km in 2004 which is the period when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the Prime Minister of the country. This means that under his tenure, 15,984 km of national highway was constructed.
Claim 4: "29,735 Km : 10 Years of UPA”
Fact: The UPA government ruled from 2004 to 2014. According to the annual report (2013-2014) by Ministry of Roads Transport and Highways (MORTH), the length of national highway network in 2014 was 92,851 km. Hence, the network expanded from 65,569 km in 2004 to 92,851 km in 2014. This means that in 10 years of the UPA government, an increase of 27,282 km was witnessed.
Claim 5: "38,475 Km : During Modi Govt. in 4 Yr 6 Mth”
Fact: According to the annual report (2017-2018) by MORTH, the length of national highway network was 1,20,543 km. The official website of MORTH has data till 30 June, 2018. As per the data, a total of 2,345 km was constructed. Hence, till 30 June, under the Modi government, the national highway network witnessed an increase of 30,037 km from 92,851 km in 2014 to 1,22,888 km in 2018.
Claim 6: "61,164 Km : On-going Construction”
Fact: As per a release by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), this claim is completely true.
Claim 7: "53,031 Km : New NH Projects Declared”
Fact: As per another release by PIB, this claim is true.
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