India has witnessed the development of some major highways in recent years and is expected to see significant development of such projects in the coming years. The budgetary allocation from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has increased by 879% to Rs 2.76 Lakh Cr in FY24 from Rs 28,400 Cr in FY14. The Indian road network is transforming to attain the world-class standards. Highways are essential for enhancing connectivity and providing smooth movement of people and goods, thus contributing to economic growth. India has the second largest road network after the United States.
The Bharatmala project is a centrally funded project for roads and highways development aimed at creating a strong network of roads, highways, and expressways in India. In this article, we would list the top 10 biggest highway projects in India.
Biggest highways in India: Key facts
| Longest highways in India | Length in kilometre (km) | Route details | States covered |
| NH-44 (Old NH-7) | 3,745 | Srinagar to Kanyakumari | Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu |
| NH-27 | 3,507 | Porbandar in Gujarat and ends in Silchar in Assam | Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam |
| NH-48 (Old NH-8) | 2,807 | Delhi to Chennai | Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu |
| NH-52 | 2,317 | Sangrur, Punjab and stretches till Ankola, Karnataka | Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka |
| NH-30 (Old NH-221) | 2,040 | Sitarganj, Uttarakhand to Ibrahimpatnam, Andhra Pradesh | Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana |
| NH-6 | 1,873 | Jorabat, Meghalaya to Selling, Mizoram | Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram |
| NH-53 | 1,781 | Hajira, Gujarat and Pradip port, Odisha | Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha |
| NH-16 (Old NH-5) | 1,711 | East coast of West Bengal to Chennai, Tamil Nadu | West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu |
| NH-66 (Old NH-17) | 1,622 | Panvel to Kanyakumari | Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu |
| NH-19 (Old NH-20) | 1,435 | Delhi to Kolkata | Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal |
Biggest highways in India: Map
Source: Wikimedia
National Highway-44
The NH-44, the longest national highway in India, was formed by combining seven national highways. It connects Srinagar in north to Kanyakumari in south.
National Highway-27
The NH-27, an east-west national highway, is India’s second-longest national highway, connecting Porbandar to Silchar. It is being maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
National Highway-48 (Old National Highway-8)
The NH-48, covering 2,807 km, is India’s third longest national highway. Connecting Delhi to Chennai, the highway passes through seven states.
National Highway-52
National Highway-52 passes through six Indian states, covering a distance 2,317 km. It creates vital connections across all states that it covers. It passes through the Western Ghats of India.
National Highway-30 (Old National Highway-221)
The NH-30 is India’s fifth-longest national highway, connecting Sitarganj in Uttarakhand with Ibrahimpatnam and Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. It was formerly known as the National Highway-221.
National Highway-6
The NH-6 connects the north-eastern states of India. This highway was earlier known as the NH-40, 44, 154 and 54. It covers three states — Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
National Highway-53
The NH-53 is a part of AH-46 network in India. Connecting Gujarat and Odisha, the NH-53 is officially listed as running over Kolkata to Surat.
National Highway-16 (Old National Highway-5)
The NH-16 is a part of the Golden Quadrilateral Project and covers the eastern coast of India near the Bay of Bengal. It passes through four states — West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
National Highway-66 (Old National Highway-17)
The NH-66 is one of the biggest highways in India, covering the south-western coast of India. It covers the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, covering hills, forests, rivers, rivulets, and streams.
National Highway-19 (Old National Highway-20)
The NH-19, a major portion of the historical Grand Trunk Road, connects Agra in Uttar Pradesh to Kolkata in West Bengal. The highway road is also a part of AH-1 of the Asian Highway Network.
Biggest highways in India: Key facts
- India has the second-largest road network in the world, according to the Bank of America Securitas. The United States of America is at the first place.
- The Golden Quadrilateral Project in India is a national highway network connecting the four main metro cities – Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai.
- India has the second-highest motorway in the world, connecting Shimla to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K).
- There are more than 200 national and state highways in India, covering 1,31,899 km.
- These roads provide efficient connectivity, reducing more than 40% of congestion.
- NH-118 and NH-548 are the shortest national highways in India. The NH-118 covering 17 km connects Asanbani and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. The NH-548 covers 5 km from Kalamboli to Paragaon in Maharashtra.
- The NH-30 is one of the safest highways in India, which connects Sitarganj in Uttarakhand with Ibrahimpatnam, Vijaywada in Andhra Pradesh.
- The main highways in India are recognised by two-digit numbers, while their branches are identified using three digits.
- Colour coding of highways: Yellow and white colours are used for marking national highways, while black and white colours are used for marking state highways.
Development of national highways in India
Highways in India have been developed to provide road connectivity. They have existed for years and play a crucial role in the economic, political, and cultural aspects. Major development of highways in India was witnessed during the British rule. In 1972, the government of India appointed the Jayakar Committee to collect funds for the development of roads and highways. Besides, the Indian Road Congress (IRC) and the Nagpur Plan were constituted among other bodies.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was formed under an act of Parliament in 1988 under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways as a central authority to develop, maintain, and manage the National Highways projects.
Housing.com News Viewpoint
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways in India. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) undertakes the development of several highway projects in the country. These highway projects are aimed to boost connectivity across the regions, which results in improved economic activities and growth in real estate developments.
FAQs
Which is the largest highway in India?
The NH-44 covers the North-South Corridor of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and is the longest national highway, spanning over 4,112 km and connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari.
Which is the smallest highway in India?
The NH-118 and the NH-548 are the smallest highways in India.
Which is the busiest highway in India?
The old NH-8, now part of NH-48, connecting Delhi to Mumbai, is known as the busiest highway in the subcontinent.
Which is the oldest highway in India?
The Grand Trunk Road is one of the oldest highway routes in India.
Which city has the most roads in India?
Delhi has the highest length of roads among metropolitan cities in India.
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