Centre Bias Alleged: Disparity in Road Fund Allocation

Although road infrastructure development is progressing rapidly across the country, criticism is growing that the Centre is showing bias against southern states. The government has been focusing on building expressways and ring roads to ease traffic congestion and enable faster travel. However, data presented in the Lok Sabha indicates that northern states are receiving a larger share of the benefits.

States like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan are witnessing major corridor developments, while in the south, apart from Andhra Pradesh, other states are lagging behind. In the financial year 2023–24, Uttar Pradesh received ₹28,114 crore, whereas Telangana was allocated only ₹6,117 crore. Similarly, in the selection of cities with a population above five lakh for development projects, northern states dominate, while Telangana has only two such cities.

Despite lower allocations, Telangana has shown better performance in fund utilization by spending more than the allocated amount in 2024–25 and accelerating project execution. The Centre has identified nearly 19,000 km of high-speed corridors nationwide, but delays in some projects are attributed to land acquisition issues, clearances, design challenges, and financial constraints of contractors. Southern states continue to demand equitable distribution of funds.