The Indian government is prioritizing the construction of all-weather roads across various states to improve national roadways infrastructure, aimed at preventing potholes and mud-related damage. All-weather roads are designed to be durable against weather conditions, reducing road damage and maintenance issues like potholes.

Central Government Funding and Road Construction

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) allocates funds to state governments under schemes like the Central Road & Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) for the development and maintenance of state roads. However, fund utilization varies and some states have underutilized allocated funds, impacting timely road upgrades.In 2025-26, Rs 9,342 crore is estimated for states and UTs from CRIF, which is slightly higher than previous years but actual spending has sometimes lagged.There are ongoing projects to build and upgrade national highways, including 202 projects worth Rs 79,789 crore and many all-weather road projects, such as the one in Uttarakhand’s Pithoragarh to enhance connectivity and withstand weather challenges.

Pothole Prevention and Road Maintenance Strategies

The government aims to make national highways pothole-free by the end of 2025, with policy initiatives focusing on better quality road construction methods such as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) mode, which incentivizes contractors to ensure long-lasting roads.Modern technologies and engineering measures, including covering open drains with reinforced concrete and tighter safety audits, are being implemented to maintain road quality and prevent potholes.Efforts also include surveys and geo-tagging of damaged road patches to prioritize repairs, especially in high-traffic urban areas.

Challenges and Recommendations

Although the central government allocates funds for road infrastructure, the limited disbursement or underutilization of funds by states can delay road improvements.Building durable all-weather roads requires adequate and timely funds, appropriate engineering standards, and continuous maintenance.

Enhanced coordination between central and state agencies, alongside monitoring and community involvement, is essential to ensure the infrastructure withstands monsoons and heavy usage without falling into disrepair.

In summary, India is actively working on building all-weather roads across states to prevent potholes and muddy conditions, despite funding challenges.

Better fund utilization, advanced construction methods, and focused maintenance policies are key to achieving durable national highways infrastructure across the country ��������.