The Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways is a national highway network, which forms a quadrilateral by connecting the four main metro cities – Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai. It is an important highway project under the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The highways, developed to reduce travel time between the metros, cover several major industrial, agricultural and cultural hubs across the country.
See also: National highways in India: Fact guide
Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: Route
The Golden Quadrilateral is 5,846 km long and includes four- to six-lane express highways. The major routes are:
- Delhi – Kolkata: 1,453 km (NH 44 from Delhi to Agra and NH 19 from Agra to Kolkata)
- Chennai – Mumbai: 1,290 km
- Kolkata – Chennai: 1,684 km (NH 16)
- Mumbai – Delhi: 1,419 km
Only the national highways form the Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways. The Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai route uses the NH 48 as per the new numbering system.
The Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways network connects other major cities, such as Pune, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Kanpur and Surat in the north and Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam and Bengaluru in the south.
Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: List of cities
| Delhi – Kolkata | Kolkata – Chennai | Chennai – Mumbai | Mumbai – Delhi |
| Delhi | Kolkata | Chennai | Mumbai |
| Faridabad | Kharagpur | Sriperumbudur | Silvassa |
| Palwal | Bhadrak | Kanchipuram | Vapi |
| Agra | Cuttack | Ranipet | Valsad |
| Mathura | Bhubaneswar | Vellore | Navsari |
| Vrindavan | Berhampur | Pallikonda | Surat |
| Firozabad | Srikakulam | Ambur | Bharuch |
| Etawah | Visakhapatnam | Vaniyambadi | Ankleshwar |
| Kanpur | Rajahmundry | Krishnagiri | Vadodara |
| Fatehpur district | Eluru | Hosur | Anand |
| Prayagraj | Vijayawada | Bengaluru | Nadiad |
| Varanasi | Guntur | Tumakuru | Ahmedabad |
| Chandauli | Ongole | Sira | Gandhinagar |
| Mohania | Kavali | Chitradurga | Udaipur |
| Kudra | Nellore | Davangere | Chittaurgarh |
| Sasaram | Chennai | Ranebennur | Ajmer |
| Dehri | Hubballi-Dharwad | Jaipur | |
| Aurangabad, Bihar | Belagavi | Gurgaon | |
| Sherghati | Kolhapur | Delhi | |
| Dobhi | Karad | ||
| Chauparan | Satara | ||
| Barhi | Pune | ||
| Bagodar | Panvel | ||
| Dhanbad | Mumbai | ||
| Asansol | |||
| Durgapur | |||
| Bardhaman | |||
| Kolkata |
Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: Map
Source: Google Maps
Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: Construction
The construction of the Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways network began in 2001 and was completed in 2012. The initial estimated project cost was Rs 600 billion; however, it was completed at Rs 308 billion, nearly half of the estimated cost. The project was divided into sections and individual contracts were awarded for each section.
The project’s funding included Rs 200 billion from petrol and diesel taxes, Rs 200 billion through external assistance, Rs 100 billion from market borrowings and Rs 40 billion from private sector participation.
The Golden Quadrilateral project was implemented through a public-private partnership (PPP) between the NHAI and the corresponding contractors. The contractors would collect toll taxes along the highways for a specified concession period.
Additional projects under the NHDP
Under the second phase of the NHDP, the government has covered the North-South-East-West Corridor (NS-EW). It is the largest ongoing highway project, which involves the development of 7,300 km of four- to six-lane highways linking Srinagar, Kanyakumari, Kochi, Porbandar and Silchar.
North-South Corridor
The corridor covers 4,000 km, connecting Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) and Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu).
East-West Corridor
The corridor covers 4,000 km, linking Silchar (Assam) and Porbandar (Gujarat).
Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways: Construction timeline
- 1999: The Golden Quadrilateral project was conceptualised. PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation stone on January 6, 1999.
- 2001: Construction of the Golden Quadrilateral project began
- 2009: The conversion of the existing four-lane highways into six-lane highways was announced
- 2012: Th Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways network officially completed
- 2013: The Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways became operational in July 2013
FAQs
Is the Golden Quadrilateral a national highway?
The Golden Quadrilateral is a network of national highways, connecting the major metro cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Mumbai.
What are the features of the Golden Quadrilateral Super Highways?
The Golden Quadrilateral national highway network is equipped with all the necessary facilities and safety features, including guard rails, shoulders and high-visibility signages.
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