Types of Roads and Highways In India
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Which route did you take today to reach your workplace? A highway or just a local city road? Every road you walk on is not the same. Some of them can be a National Highway, or a state highway, or just your village road that takes you to the city.
India’s road network connects cities, towns, and villages across the country. Roads are divided into different types based on their use, how they are built, and who manages them. They play an important role in transport, trade, and the country’s growth by helping people and goods move easily.
In this blog, we will discuss everything about the types of road highways in India.
List of The Types of Roads in India
The types of roads depend upon the uses and purpose of the road. Here are different categories of roads in India:
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1 National Highways
- Connect major cities and states in India.
- It is crucial for long-distance travel and national trade.
- It has many types, including:
- Single-lane highway
- Double-lane highway
- Four-lane highway
- Six-lane highway
- Eight-lane highway
2 Expressways
- High-speed, controlled-access roads with modern features allow speeds up to 120 km/h.
- It reduces travel time and makes the journey convenient.
- Some of the famous expressways are:
- Agra-Lucknow Expressway (302 Km)
- Yamuna Expressway (165 Km)
- Outer Ring Road Hyderabad (158 Km)
- Mumbai-Nashik Expressway (150 km)
- Eastern Peripheral Expressway (135 Km)
3 State Highways
- Connect key cities within a state and link to national highways.
- It is managed and maintained by state governments.
- State highways are marked as ‘SH’ followed by the state’s code.
4 District Roads
- Link towns and villages within a district.
- It is important for daily commuting and transport.
5 Village Roads
- It connects rural areas to nearby towns.
- Village roads make up about 73% of India’s road network.
- It supports rural development under schemes like PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana scheme).
6 Border Roads
- It connects remote border areas and supports national security.
- Built in the northern and northeastern border areas.
- These roads have been maintained by BRO since 1960.
7 International Highways
- Connect India with neighbouring countries.
- Also, promote trade and cross-border travel.
- These roads are built in the northern and northeastern border regions.
- The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) manages construction and maintenance.
What are the Different Types of Highways in India?
Highways play a major role in moving people and goods across the country. Here are the main types of highways in India:
1 Expressways
- These are high-speed roads with limited access points.
- Designed for smooth, fast travel with tolls and grade-separated interchanges.
- Ideal for long-distance travel with minimal stops.
- Examples: Mumbai-Pune Expressway, Yamuna Expressway.
2 National Expressways
- Managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
- Built to improve inter-city travel and reduce congestion.
- Offer faster routes between major cities.
- Examples: Delhi-Mumbai Expressway, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway.
3 Ring Roads
- These roads circle a city or town.
- Help keep heavy traffic out of the city centre.
- Improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in urban areas.
- Examples: Hyderabad Outer Ring Road, Delhi Ring Road.
4 Bypass Roads
- Built to divert highway traffic away from crowded city areas.
- Reduce inner-city congestion and support local traffic.
- Useful for smooth travel on busy routes.
- Examples: Chennai Bypass, Pune Bypass.
Important National Highways in India
Here is the list of national highways in India:
| NH Number | Route | Length (km) | Importance of NH |
|---|---|---|---|
| NH 44 | Srinagar to Kanyakumari | 4,112 | Longest highway and connects north to south India. |
| NH 27 | Gujarat to Assam | 3,507 | The major east–west route supports trade across states. |
| NH 48 | Delhi to Chennai | 2,807 | Connects major cities and boosts trade and tourism. |
| NH 66 | Mumbai to Kanyakumari | 1,622 | Connects coastal areas and supports tourism and trade. |
| NH 19 | Delhi to Kolkata | 1,465 | Part of the Grand Trunk Road, it links industrial hubs. |
| NH 16 | Kolkata to Chennai | 1,533 | Connects eastern ports and aids in import-export trade. |
| NH 75 | Gwalior to Ranchi | 650 | Improves access in central and eastern India. |
| NH 1 | Delhi to Amritsar | 456 | Key for defense and trade in Punjab. |
| NH 548 | Kalamboli to JNPT (Maharashtra) | 5 | The shortest highway connects to a major port. |
| NH 8 | Delhi to Mumbai | 1,428 | Connects the capital with the financial hub; boosts the economy. |
| NH 125 | Almora to Tanakpur (Uttarakhand) | 200 | Helps tourism in the Himalayan region. |
| NH 17 | Edappally to Panvel | 1,269 | Coastal highway supports regional trade and travel. |
Role of Highways in the Indian Economy
Here are the main roles of highways in the Indian economy:
- Highways speed up the transport of goods and people.
- They boost trade by connecting cities, states, and markets.
- Support industries, farming, and tourism through better access.
- Create jobs and help in faster emergency or defense movement.
Conclusion
Understanding the types of roads and highways in India helps us see how well-connected our country is. Each road type plays a special role in linking cities, villages, and borders, supporting travel, trade, and overall development. A strong road network is key to a stronger India. These roads not only make daily travel easier but also boost the economy by improving transport and connectivity. With better roads and highways, India moves faster towards progress.
FAQs - Types of Roads and Highways In India
Roads in India are classified based on their purpose and who maintains them. They help connect cities, towns, villages, and borders efficiently.
The four main types are National Highways, State Highways, District Roads, and Village Roads. Each serves a different level of connectivity.
India has several types of roads, like National Highways, State Highways, Expressways, District Roads, Rural Roads, and Border Roads, all serving different travel needs.
India mainly has three types of highways such as National Highways for long-distance travel, State Highways for state-level travel, and Expressways for faster, high-speed travel.
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