Regional impact assessment of highways and policy Interventions: Lessons from Haryana, India

Abstract

The construction of highway infrastructure is essential for fostering economic growth, promoting connectivity, and influencing regional planning. This study assesses the consequences of roads (highways) in Haryana State, India, concentrating on highway lengths, highway density, modal distribution, economic performance, road safety, and environmental impacts. The research adheres to the Cross-Industry Standard Process for Data Mining (CRISP-DM) framework to ensure a methodical approach for the analysis. A quantitative analysis utilising correlation analysis and k-means clustering was performed to evaluate the relationship between highway growth and identified parameters. The research employs district-level data from 2003 to 2023, obtained from MoRTH (2023), the Statistical Abstract of Haryana (2024), and the National Crime Records Bureau (2024). The findings demonstrate a significant association between highway length and GDP, highlighting the importance of highways in economic advancement. The k-means clustering method categorised districts into five unique clusters, revealing regional inequalities in infrastructure development, economic progress, and accident frequencies. The study highlights an increase in road accidents in high-traffic districts and a rise in PM2.5 and CO₂ emissions, emphasizing sustainability challenges. The study offers a framework for assessing highway impacts and suggests policy solutions with immediate, short-term, and long-term applications to tackle regional inequities, road safety issues, and environmental sustainability. The investigation formulates a framework for the examination of highway impacts and suggests policy interventions to policymakers, urban planners, transport authorities, and regional development agencies that can be implemented in the short, medium, and long term to mitigate regional disparities, environmental sustainability, and road safety concerns.