India has made substantial progress in its infrastructure development in 2024, with multiple major projects completed and new ones lined up for the coming years. The government’s commitment of Rs 11 lakh crore in capital expenditure this fiscal year, alongside strategic initiatives like the National Infrastructure Pipeline and PM GatiShakti National Master Plan, has fueled this growth.

Key Infrastructure Projects in 2024:

1. Atal Setu (Mumbai Trans Harbour Link):
   The Atal Setu, India’s longest sea bridge, opened in January 2024. This 21.8-kilometer bridge connects Mumbai with Navi Mumbai, reducing travel time from nearly two hours to just 20–25 minutes. It was built at a cost of Rs 21,200 crore and is set to improve connectivity in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

2. Mumbai Coastal Road Project:
   The Mumbai coastal road project, valued at Rs 13,000 crore, will offer a north-south route, featuring India's first undersea tunnel. The first phase, spanning 10.5 kilometers, connects Marine Drive to Worli, significantly cutting down travel time.

3. Metro Projects:
   Cities like Bengaluru, Kolkata, Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur saw major metro expansions. Notable developments include the underwater metro under the Hooghly River in Kolkata, Bengaluru's Green Line extension, and new stations in Mumbai Metro Line 3.

4. Sela Tunnel (Arunachal Pradesh):
   Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Sela Tunnel in March 2024, the world’s longest bi-lane tunnel at 13,000 feet. This Rs 825 crore project ensures all-weather connectivity to Tawang and boosts security preparedness in the region.

5. Banihal-Sangaldan Railway Section:
   A 48-km stretch of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla Rail Link, inaugurated in February, connects Baramulla in Kashmir to Udhampur, enhancing rail connectivity. The section features India's longest transportation tunnel (T-50), a 12.77 km stretch.

Upcoming Projects:

1. Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway:
   A 260-km expressway connecting Bengaluru and Chennai, costing over Rs 17,930 crore, is slated to reduce travel time to three hours. The project is expected to complete by August 2025.

2. Noida International Airport:
   With its first landing test in December 2024, the Noida International Airport is expected to open in mid-2025. Initially, it will handle 1.2 crore passengers annually, with a future capacity of 7 crore.

3. Navi Mumbai International Airport:
   Expected to become operational by March 2025, the Navi Mumbai International Airport will be India’s largest with a 90-million-passenger capacity by 2032. It will feature two runways, four terminals, and multimodal connectivity with metro, rail, and road.

4. Western Dedicated Freight Corridor:
   This 1,506 km-long corridor connecting Maharashtra to northern India will be completed by December 2025. It will facilitate faster freight transport, enhancing trade and reducing logistics costs.

Conclusion:
India’s ongoing and upcoming infrastructure projects are setting a strong foundation for enhanced connectivity and economic growth. With projects like the Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway and Noida International Airport in the pipeline, the nation is poised for transformative advancements in transportation and logistics.