Types of Roads & Highways in India

The network of roads in the country spans over 5 million kilometres, which is the second largest network of roads globally. The huge road network helps in the transportation of goods and also allows people to go from one place to another. However, all the roads are not similar and there are different types of roads in the country.

The different types of roads in India can be classified on various parameters. Here are some of the basic parameters on which roads can be classified:

Materials

While deciding on the construction of a road, the material that is used depends on various factors like the purpose of the road and the amount of traffic that the road will be handling. Hence, there are many types of roads in India that you will see including gravel roads, cemented roads, concrete roads, etc.

Location

One of the most commonly used ways of classification of roads is the location. Based on the location, roads are classified into national highways, district roads, state highways, and rural/village roads.

Traffic

The classification of roads can also be done based on the traffic that they witness. The roads are classified as low, medium, and high-traffic roads. You also have pedestrian tracks, motor vehicle roads, and cycle tracks classified based on the purpose they serve and the traffic they receive

Topography

The types of roads and highways are also classified based on topography. India has a very diverse topography with plains, beaches, and mountains. In plains, the roads are mostly levelled which offers a smooth ride. The roads in the mountain areas are spiral in shape. Due to the extreme conditions of weather, the hilly and mountain region roads require more maintenance than the roads in the plains.

Costs

The cost of constructing a road depends on the location and purpose of the road. The engineers involved in the construction of the road conduct a detailed traffic analysis to understand the width, the best material for the construction, as well as some other aspects. On the basis of the cost, the roads are divided into - high-cost, medium-cost, and low-cost roads.

The IRC or the Indian Road Congress is the prime Indian authority that looks after the development of roads in the country. The body was established in the year 1934 and consisted of some of the most highly qualified highway engineers.

According to the IRC, the types of highways and roads in India include

• National Highways
• District Roads
• State Highways
• Village/Rural Roads

Thus, this answers the questions regarding how many types of highways and roads in India.

There are two major types of highways in India:

National Highways

National highways are essential roads that stretch between major cities in the country. Highways connect the capitals of states. Some of the main highways in India also connect the country to some of the neighbouring countries which enables us to travel to these countries through roads making some of the top-rated tourist destinations accessible.

Highways are well-constructed roads that have lights, bridges, traffic signs, etc. These are mostly wide and enable a smooth riding experience. The highways in India are denoted by ‘NH,’ and they also have codes followed by these alphabets, such as NH-1, NH-10, etc. This is one of the main types of highways in India. The national highways are classified into

• Single lane highways in India
• Double lane highways in India
• Four lane highways in India
• Six-lane highways in India
• Eight-lane highways in India

State Highways

State highways are the major roads that connect the main cities of the state. They also allow connectivity to national highways and state highways. The state highways are denoted by ‘SH’, and the alphabet is followed by the code of the state.

The states of India with some of the most highways are Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat. The state highways are maintained by the authorities of the respective states.

Roads are essential for the economic development of any nation. Better roads lead to better standards of living for the people and increased opportunities. Some of the reasons due to why a developed and maintained network of roads is essential are:

Food and goods transportation

Roads enable the import and export of goods and food. National highways allow the transportation of essential goods across the nation. The state highways and district and rural roads enable the transportation of goods deeper into the states and cities and even villages.

Ease of travelling

Well-constructed roads allow travelling to be safe and convenient. Roads allow people to move from one place to another using public as well private transport facilities. People can move from one place to the other for vacations, business, and other essential purposes.

Connectivity to remotest locations

Better connectivity of roads makes a huge difference in the lives of people who live in remote locations in the country. This is especially true for people who live in mountain areas. It is easier to transport essential goods using roadways to remote locations than airways, waterways, etc.

Lower costs

Roads need less capital investment for construction as compared to airways or railways. Also, they are more cost-effective when it comes to operations and maintenance as compared to some of the other modes of transportation.

Related: Highway Hypnosis

With every passing year, the network of roads in India is increasing. Recently, in the Union Budget, the government has promised to create a wider road network that connects every important part of the country. Good quality roads not only make travelling easy, they also boost the country's economy.