India soon to boost speed limits on expressways and national highways

India soon will boost speed limits for passenger cars from 100 km per hour on expressways to 120 km per hour, and from 100 km per hour on national highways to 80 km per hour. India’s Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari approved the revised speed limits yesterday, according to Hindustan Times. The proposal has to be vetted by the Law Ministry.

Currently, only the 165 km Yamuna Expressway connecting the capital city, Delhi, with Agra has a speed limit of 100 km per hour.

The ministry has also decided to introduce speed limits on roads within municipal limits. But it will be tough to implement it unless the states come on board.

The road ministry has also approved a uniform speed limit of 80 km per hour for motorcycles on highways and expressways. For roads in municipal limits, the speed limit for cars has been set at 70 km per hour and for motorcycles at 60 km per hour.

For heavy vehicles such as buses and trucks, the new speed limit prescribed is 100 km per hour on expressways, 90 km per hour on national highways and 60 km per hour on roads within municipal limits.

Last year, Gadkari gave an indication of the ministry’s intent, given India’ improved highway infrastructure and vehicle technology. A committee headed by Abhay Damle, joint secretary (transport), was then established, which has now given its recommendations to raise the speed limits.

“Increasing the speed limit will go a long way in improving logistic efficiency in the country. The travel time will reduce, fuel efficiency of vehicles will increase and fuel consumption will go down,” said Vishnu Mathur, director general of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), who welcomed the move.

The ministry plans to build 1,000 km of access-controlled expressways across India in the next five to seven years.