NEW DELHI, May 10 -- The Centre is set to adopt a more modest highway construction target for fiscal 2027 (FY27) as it focuses on clearing delayed projects while attempting to revive private investment through the build-operate-transfer (BOT) model.

The government is likely to target construction of 10,000 km in FY27, unchanged from the previous fiscal year, when actual construction fell short at about 9,400 km. The target marks a step-down from the record 13,814 km set for FY24 and about 12,500 km for FY25. Actual construction in those two years stood at 12,349 km and 10,660 km, respectively, according to data from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

Road transport and highways secretary V Umashankar told Mint the FY27 constru...