Experts call for strategic rethink of road infrastructure to enable defence, disaster response and resilient logistics
India’s vast highway network has long been regarded as a driver of economic growth, but experts are now calling for it to be reframed as a national security priority. From military mobilisation to humanitarian response, reliable road infrastructure is increasingly seen as indispensable for strategic preparedness.
“India’s highway network must be reframed as a strategic asset for national security,” said Dr Bhargab Maitra, Professor at the Civil Engineering Department of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and Member of the Road Safety Network. “During emergencies—be it military mobilisation, humanitarian response, or natural disasters—uninterrupted mobility is essential to ensure timely deployment of logistics, personnel, and critical services.”
However, Maitra warned that India’s current road infrastructure lacks the operational integrity to support such demands. Poor access control, roadside friction, and unsafe interactions between fast-moving vehicles and vulnerable road users compromise both safety and mobility. “Unless these safety concerns are systematically addressed, highways will fall short of serving their intended function during national security scenarios,” he added.
A safer-by-design approach, Maitra argued, is key to bridging this gap. Although India has standards such as those issued by the Indian Roads Congress (IRC), the challenge lies in consistent enforcement. “Without implementation, standards remain paper-bound,” he said. “National security demands infrastructure that is not just fast, but safe, inclusive, and dependable.”
Strategic corridors in border regions vital for military readiness and deterrence
The integration of aviation-capable highway stretches by the Indian government has been welcomed as a step in the right direction, but experts say the broader road network must follow suit. Maitra advocated for mandatory safety audits and the establishment of a Central Road Safety Authority to support this vision.
Ajay Gupta, Principal Consultant and Founder of Perceptive Ideas Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd., echoed the need to treat roads as more than developmental tools. “Road infrastructure serves a crucial role in national security, far beyond economic and civic purposes,” he said. “In strategic border areas and sensitive sectors, reliable and robust road networks act as critical arteries for defence mobilisation, emergency response, and logistical effectiveness.”
Drawing from field experience, Gupta said resilient design—incorporating geotechnical analysis, climate-proof materials, and fast-deployment construction—can make a significant difference in high-stakes scenarios. “It’s time road infrastructure is treated not only as a developmental need, but as a core component of India’s strategic preparedness.”
Experts call for safer, more resilient highways to serve defence & civil needs
Arvind Patel, Managing Director of Patel Infrastructure Ltd., underlined how this approach plays out on the ground. “As an organisation that is fully palpable in India’s developmental narrative, we see road infrastructure as not just a conduit of connectivity but as a strategic asset foundational to national security,” he said.
Citing the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldie (DSDBO) road in Ladakh as an example, Patel said such corridors provide not just access but operational edge. “Troop mobilisations and logistics become uninterrupted, and rapid responses possible in the most remote of high-stakes regions,” he said. Roads also provide a deterrence effect, enabling a visible and functional state presence in contested areas. “The psychological piece of any competitive area is as relevant as the operational piece.”
Internally, roads serve as bridges to peace and governance. “Road connectivity promotes integration in conflict-prone areas, facilitates governance, and fosters economic inclusion,” Patel added. “Road infrastructure is often the first visible aspect of the state in neglected, marginalised regions. From a higher view, this infrastructure connects to economic resilience.”
As India pushes forward with its Vision 2030 agenda, experts agree that the convergence of security and infrastructure should be deliberate, not incidental. A unified policy framework that treats roads as dual-use assets—for both national development and strategic security—may well be the difference between preparedness and vulnerability.
