Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India

The Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India is responsible for the development, maintenance, and expansion of the country’s road infrastructure. The ministry oversees national highways, road safety policies, and vehicle regulation reforms to ensure efficient and safe transportation across India.

Updated On - 16 Feb 2026
Check Free Credit Score
Road Transport and Highways

List of Road Transport and Highways ministers in India from 1947 to present:

Name

Duration

Political Party

Prime Minister

Nitin Gadkari

27 May 2014 – Present

Bharatiya Janata Party

Narendra Modi

Oscar Fernandes

17 June 2013 – 26 May 2014

Indian National Congress

Manmohan Singh

Manmohan Singh (PM, Additional Charge)

15 June 2013 – 17 June 2013

Indian National Congress

Manmohan Singh

C. P. Joshi

19 January 2011 – 15 June 2013

Indian National Congress

Manmohan Singh

Kamal Nath

28 May 2009 – 19 January 2011

Indian National Congress

Manmohan Singh

T. R. Baalu

2 October 2004 – 22 May 2009

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Manmohan Singh

T. R. Baalu

23 May 2004 – 2 October 2004

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

Manmohan Singh

Major General B. C. Khanduri

7 November 2000 – 22 May 2004

Bharatiya Janata Party

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (PM, Additional Charge)

25 October 2000 – 7 November 2000

Bharatiya Janata Party

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Rajnath Singh

22 November 1999 – 25 October 2000

Bharatiya Janata Party

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Nitish Kumar

13 October 1999 – 22 November 1999

Samata Party

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Jaswant Singh

5 August 1999 – 13 October 1999

Bharatiya Janata Party

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Nitish Kumar

8 April 1999 – 5 August 1999

Samata Party (NDA)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

M. Thambidurai

8 April 1998 – 8 April 1999

AIADMK (NDA)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

Sedapatti R. Muthiah

19 March 1998 – 8 April 1998

AIADMK (NDA)

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

T. G. Venkatraman

1 June 1996 – 21 April 1997

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam

H. D. Deve Gowda / I. K. Gujral

Atal Bihari Vajpayee (PM, Additional Charge)

16 May 1996 – 1 June 1996

Bharatiya Janata Party

Atal Bihari Vajpayee

M. Rajasekara Murthy

15 September 1995 – 16 May 1996

Indian National Congress

P. V. Narasimha Rao

Jagdish Tytler

21 June 1991 – 15 September 1995

Indian National Congress

P. V. Narasimha Rao

Chandra Shekhar (PM, Additional Charge)

26 April 1991 – 21 June 1991

Samajwadi Janata Party

Chandra Shekhar

Manubhai Kotadia

21 November 1990 – 26 April 1991

Samajwadi Janata Party

Chandra Shekhar

K. P. Unnikrishnan

6 December 1989 – 10 November 1990

Janata Dal (NF)

V. P. Singh

Rajesh Pilot

22 October 1986 – 2 December 1989

Indian National Congress

Rajiv Gandhi

Mohsina Kidwai

24 June 1986 – 22 October 1986

Indian National Congress

Rajiv Gandhi

Rajiv Gandhi (PM, Additional Charge)

4 June 1986 – 24 June 1986

Indian National Congress

Rajiv Gandhi

Bansi Lal

25 September 1985 – 4 June 1986

Indian National Congress

Rajiv Gandhi

Ziaur Rahman Ansari

31 December 1984 – 25 September 1985

Indian National Congress

Rajiv Gandhi

Veerendra Patil

7 September 1984 – 31 October 1984

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Kotla Vijaya Bhaskara Reddy

2 February 1983 – 7 September 1984

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

C. M. Stephen

2 September 1982 – 2 February 1983

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Veerendra Patil

19 October 1980 – 2 September 1982

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Anant Sharma

14 January 1980 – 19 October 1980

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Janeshwar Mishra

30 July 1979 – 14 January 1980

Janata Party

Charan Singh

Chand Ram

14 August 1977 – 28 July 1979

Janata Party

Morarji Desai

Jagjivan Ram (Deputy PM)

7 June 1977 – 17 June 1977

Janata Party

Morarji Desai

Morarji Desai (PM, Additional Charge)

24 March 1977 – 7 June 1977

Janata Party

Morarji Desai

Gurdial Singh Dhillon

1 December 1975 – 24 March 1977

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Uma Shankar Dikshit

10 February 1975 – 1 December 1975

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Kamalapati Tripathi

8 November 1973 – 10 February 1975

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Raj Bahadur

18 March 1971 – 8 November 1973

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Kotha Raghuramaiah

14 February 1969 – 18 March 1971

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

V. K. R. V. Rao

13 March 1967 – 14 February 1969

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Neelam Sanjiva Reddy

24 January 1966 – 13 March 1967

Indian National Congress

Indira Gandhi

Raj Bahadur

1 September 1963 – 10 April 1964

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru / Gulzarilal Nanda / Lal Bahadur Shastri

Jagjivan Ram

10 April 1962 – 31 August 1963

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

P. Subbarayan

2 September 1959 – 10 April 1962

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

Jawaharlal Nehru (PM, Additional Charge)

24 August 1959 – 2 September 1959

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

S. K. Patil

29 March 1958 – 24 August 1959

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

Lal Bahadur Shastri

17 April 1957 – 28 March 1958

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

Jagjivan Ram

7 December 1956 – 17 April 1957

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

Lal Bahadur Shastri

13 May 1952 – 7 December 1956

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

N. Gopalaswamy Ayyangar

22 September 1948 – 13 May 1952

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

John Mathai

15 August 1947 – 22 September 1948

Indian National Congress

Jawaharlal Nehru

FAQs on Minister of Road Transport and Highways

  • Who is the current Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India?

    The current Minister of Road Transport and Highways is Nitin Gadkari.  

  • What are the main responsibilities of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways?

    The ministry is responsible for planning, developing, and maintaining national highways and implementing road transport and safety laws across India.

  • When was the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways established?

      It was established in 1947, soon after India’s independence, as part of the Transport Ministry and later became a separate entity.  

  • Which department handles road safety and traffic management in India?

    The Road Safety Division under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways handles road safety, awareness programs, and traffic regulation.  

  • Where can I find information about national highway projects in India?

    You can visit the official website of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (morth.nic.in) for updates on highway projects and related schemes.  

Disclaimer
Display of any trademarks, tradenames, logos and other subject matters of intellectual property belong to their respective intellectual property owners. Display of such IP along with the related product information does not imply BankBazaar's partnership with the owner of the Intellectual Property or issuer/manufacturer of such products.