Rajasthan: Infrastructure: roads, rail, power

Rajasthan's desert terrain, international border in the west and lack of a coastline make a strong road system essential, and neighbouring states rely on Rajasthan for port connectivity. This note covers roads, transport, railways, civil aviation and communications as reported in the Economic Review 2025-26.

Road Network and Density

The state’s road network has grown from 13,553 km in 1949 to 3.35 lakh km as of March 2025. The road density reached 97.97 km per 100 sq. km. As of March 2025, 91.68 per cent of villages (39,666 villages) are connected by roads. The Public Work Department (PWD) maintains 1.97 lakh km of this total length.

• National Highways: Total length is 10,790 km.
• State Highways: Total length is 17,316 km.
• Village Roads: Total length is 216,144 km.
• Strategic Projects: The Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai and Amritsar-Jamnagar Green Corridor expressways are transforming the state into a key economic hub. The Jaipur-Jodhpur National Highway has been upgraded to a four-lane corridor, reducing travel time to three hours.

Road Development Schemes and Funding

The state plans to invest more than ₹60,000 crore over five years under the Rajasthan Road Development and Maintenance Programme. For the year 2025-26, an expenditure of ₹6,251 crore was incurred up to November against an allocated amount of ₹17,383.81 crore.

• CRIF (Central Road Infrastructure Fund): A 100 per cent GoI-funded scheme. In 2025-26, 735 km of roads were completed at an expenditure of ₹1,251.60 crore.
• State Road Fund: 1,455 km completed at ₹1,080.03 crore up to December 2025 (provision ₹1,650 crore).
• PMGSY-III: 8,662.50 km of rural roads were selected for upgradation. By December 2025, 8,560.07 km had been upgraded at a cost of ₹4,064.08 crore.
• Ring Roads: Jodhpur Ring Road Package-I and Package-II (30.00 km) are complete. Ring roads in 15 cities were announced in the 2025-26 Budget: work is underway in Kotputli, land acquisition is in progress for Sikar, and DPRs are ready for Deeg, Pratapgarh, Balotara and Karauli.
• National Highways: Of 47 national highway works, 26 are complete, 17 are ongoing (target June, 2026) and 4 were terminated.
• High-Speed Corridor: The DPR for the Jaipur-Kishangarh-Ajmer-Jodhpur-Pachpadra high-speed corridor is being prepared by NHAI.

Railway Infrastructure and Electrification

Rajasthan’s railway network is managed primarily by the North Western Railway (NWR) zone. It connects major cities like Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Ajmer, and Bikaner. The network supports passenger and freight services, including the transport of cement, salt, and minerals.

• Electrification: NWR has completed nearly 100 per cent of rail line electrification, reducing diesel dependence and carbon emissions.
• Track Doubling: Doubling is complete on Churu-Ratangarh (43 km), Kathuwas-Ateli (10 km), Kund-Kathuwas (5 km) and Manheru-Bhiwani (14 km).
• Signaling: Automatic signaling is implemented across 256 route kilometers, with 82 kilometers completed in 2025-26. A double distant signaling system is provided at 75 stations.
• New Services: On 25th September, 2025, three new trains were flagged off from Napla, Banswara: Jodhpur-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, Bikaner-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, and Udaipur City-Chandigarh Superfast Express. The Swarn Nagari Express from Jaisalmer to Delhi was launched on 29th November, 2025.

Civil Aviation Policy and Airport Development

The Rajasthan Civil Aviation Policy, 2024 aims to improve connectivity and support tourism and employment. It aligns with the National Civil Aviation Policy, 2016, focusing on safety, security, and sustainable growth.

• Airport Upgradation: The first phase includes the upgradation of Uttarlai and Udaipur Airports.
• Night Operations: Technical equipment for night flight operations will be installed at airfields in Chakchainpura (Sawaimadhopur), Nagaur, Hamirgarh (Bhilwara), Abu Road (Sirohi), and Lalgarh Jatan (Sriganganagar).
• New Airport: In the first phase, a new airport would be developed at Kota in collaboration with AAI; a cargo complex at Jaipur and a Flying Training Organisation at Jhalawar are also planned.
• City Side Development: Development initiatives are being initiated at Jaipur Airport.

Digital Infrastructure and Transport Innovation

The state is integrating technology to enhance road safety and transport efficiency.

• e-Detection System: Vehicle data from tolls is processed to issue automatic challans. 47 digital car interceptors and 42 bike interceptors are integrated with NIC-ITMS to detect violations like over-speeding and wrong-side driving.
• Expressway Integration: The Delhi-Vadodara-Mumbai Expressway is integrated with NIC-ITMS. Notices for over-speeding have been issued since 1st August, 2024.
• Automated Testing: Orders issued on 02nd July, 2025 permit Automated Testing Stations to conduct vehicle inspections. 47 stations have received initial registration certificates.
• Transport Permits: 95 routes have been opened to provide transport facilities to remote rural areas, with 2,527 permits issued.
• Vehicle registration: 13.41 lakh vehicles were registered in 2025-26 (up to December).
• RSRTC: Up to December 2025 it had a fleet of 3,423 owned and hired buses, running 2,968 buses daily on 2,025 routes and carrying 7.27 lakh passengers per day.

Post and Telecom

• Post offices: 11,031 up to December 2025 (10,419 rural, 612 urban).
• Telecom subscribers: 6.66 crore at the end of September 2025 (6.53 crore wireless, 0.13 crore wireline).