Setu Bharatam was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 4 March 2016 at a budget of ₹102 billion (US$1.2 billion), with an aim to make all national highways free of railway crossings by 2019.
[2][3] Setu Bharatam programme aims to make all National Highways free of railway level crossings by 2019.
This is being done to prevent the frequent accidents and loss of lives at level crossings.
More than 1500 old and worn down bridges will also be improved by replacement/widening/strengthening in a phased manner at a cost of about ₹30,000 crore.
The aim is to carry out conditions survey and inventorization of all bridges on National Highways in India by using Mobile Inspection Units.