National Highways in India Overview

National Highways in India

A network of limited access roads under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Designed for speeds of up to 100 km/h with controlled access at flyovers and intersections.
The longest national highway is National Highway 44, spanning 4,112 km (2,555 mi).
Approximately 35,000 km of national highways have been upgraded to four-lane standards as of March 2022.
Total length of national highways increased by about 59% from 2014 to 2023, reaching 161,350 km (100,260 mi).
In 2013, national highways constituted 2.7% of India’s total road network but carried about 40% of road traffic.
The government aimed to double the highway length to 200,000 km by 2016, focusing on expanding existing roads to six lanes or more where needed.

Management and Development

Managed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and state public works departments (PWDs).
NHAI is responsible for building, upgrading, and maintaining most of the national highways, operating under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
NHIDCL employs the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model for strategic roads, especially near international borders.
Public-private partnerships (PPP) are utilized by NHAI for highway maintenance and toll collection.

Historical Context

The National Highways Act of 1956 facilitated public investment in highway infrastructure.
Establishment of NHAI in 1988 aimed to improve national highway management and maintenance.
The NHDP initiated in 1998 focused on upgrading key corridors and connecting major metropolitan cities.
The NHIDCL began operations on July 18, 2014, as a fully government-owned entity to enhance highway infrastructure.

Infrastructure Characteristics

National highways are primarily at-grade roads, whereas expressways are controlled-access highways with designated ramps.
Standards for national highways are set by the Indian Roads Congress and Bureau of Indian Standards.
Some existing roads have been reclassified as national highways, and bypasses have been constructed around major towns to facilitate flow.

National Highways in India

A network of limited access roads under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Designed for speeds of up to 100 km/h with controlled access at flyovers and intersections.
The longest national highway is National Highway 44, spanning 4,112 km (2,555 mi).
Approximately 35,000 km of national highways have been upgraded to four-lane standards as of March 2022.
Total length of national highways increased by about 59% from 2014 to 2023, reaching 161,350 km (100,260 mi).
In 2013, national highways constituted 2.7% of India’s total road network but carried about 40% of road traffic.
The government aimed to double the highway length to 200,000 km by 2016, focusing on expanding existing roads to six lanes or more where needed.

Management and Development

Managed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and state public works departments (PWDs).
NHAI is responsible for building, upgrading, and maintaining most of the national highways, operating under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
NHIDCL employs the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model for strategic roads, especially near international borders.
Public-private partnerships (PPP) are utilized by NHAI for highway maintenance and toll collection.

Historical Context

The National Highways Act of 1956 facilitated public investment in highway infrastructure.
Establishment of NHAI in 1988 aimed to improve national highway management and maintenance.
The NHDP initiated in 1998 focused on upgrading key corridors and connecting major metropolitan cities.
The NHIDCL began operations on July 18, 2014, as a fully government-owned entity to enhance highway infrastructure.

Infrastructure Characteristics

National highways are primarily at-grade roads, whereas expressways are controlled-access highways with designated ramps.
Standards for national highways are set by the Indian Roads Congress and Bureau of Indian Standards.
Some existing roads have been reclassified as national highways, and bypasses have been constructed around major towns to facilitate flow.

National Highways in India

A network of limited access roads under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Designed for speeds of up to 100 km/h with controlled access at flyovers and intersections.
The longest national highway is National Highway 44, spanning 4,112 km (2,555 mi).
Approximately 35,000 km of national highways have been upgraded to four-lane standards as of March 2022.
Total length of national highways increased by about 59% from 2014 to 2023, reaching 161,350 km (100,260 mi).
In 2013, national highways constituted 2.7% of India’s total road network but carried about 40% of road traffic.
The government aimed to double the highway length to 200,000 km by 2016, focusing on expanding existing roads to six lanes or more where needed.

Management and Development

Managed by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD), National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and state public works departments (PWDs).
NHAI is responsible for building, upgrading, and maintaining most of the national highways, operating under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
NHIDCL employs the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model for strategic roads, especially near international borders.
Public-private partnerships (PPP) are utilized by NHAI for highway maintenance and toll collection.

Historical Context

The National Highways Act of 1956 facilitated public investment in highway infrastructure.
Establishment of NHAI in 1988 aimed to improve national highway management and maintenance.
The NHDP initiated in 1998 focused on upgrading key corridors and connecting major metropolitan cities.
The NHIDCL began operations on July 18, 2014, as a fully government-owned entity to enhance highway infrastructure.

Infrastructure Characteristics

National highways are primarily at-grade roads, whereas expressways are controlled-access highways with designated ramps.
Standards for national highways are set by the Indian Roads Congress and Bureau of Indian Standards.
Some existing roads have been reclassified as national highways, and bypasses have been constructed around major towns to facilitate flow.

National Highways in India

Managed by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, featuring a network of limited access roads.
Equipped with flyovers and controlled-access points; entrance and exit occurs at designated flyover locations.
Designed for high-speed travel, with intended speeds up to 100 km/h.
Approximately 35,000 km of national highways have been four-laned as of March 2022, initiated through the National Highway Development Project (NHDP).

Significant Entities and Responsibilities

The Central Public Works Department (CPWD), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), and state Public Works Departments (PWD) oversee highway construction and management.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and NHIDCL are the primary agencies responsible for the expansion, upgrading, and maintenance of highways under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
NHAI utilizes public-private partnerships for highway maintenance, while NHIDCL adopts the Engineering Procurement and Construction (EPC) model for strategic roads near international borders.

Notable Highways and Statistics

National Highway 44 is the longest in India, stretching 4,112 km (2,555 mi).
Total length of national highways reached 161,350 km (100,260 mi) in March 2022, a significant increase from 101,011 km in FY 2013-14.
By July 2023, a 59% increase in national highway length was reported over nine years.

Traffic and Usage

National highways represent 2.7% of the overall road network in India but account for around 40% of road traffic as of 2013.
Government's commitment to double the highway length from 101,011 km to 200,000 km was established in 2016.
Majority of national highways are currently four-lane roads, with expansions to six lanes or more ongoing, and some sections designated as toll roads.

Road Classifications

National Highways are distinct as at-grade roads, whereas Expressways are characterized as controlled-access highways with ramp systems for entrance and exit.
Compliance with standards established by the Indian Roads Congress and the Bureau of Indian Standards is mandatory for national highways.

Historical Context

The National Highways Act of 1956 laid the foundation for state investment in highway construction and maintenance, marking an important legislative step in developing India's road infrastructure.