Important National Highways in India

The entire transportation for roads in India can be distinguished into the categories of expressways, State Highways, National Highways and other routes. In India, the national highways have a total length of 142126 km, 1.60 lakh km are covered by State highways, and other roads cover the remaining. The National Highways having a road length of just 2 per cent, comprises 40 per cent of the traffic on roads. India is considered to have the second-largest network of roads, formed by more than 200 highways totalling an estimated 1 lakh kilometres.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)

It is an authoritative body with authority and power formed by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) Act, 1988, which later became autonomous in 1995. They are responsible for the proper management of highways and the operation, development, and maintenance of National Highways. The National Highway Development Project is being implemented by the NHAI, which is associated with upgrading and creating roads, highways ways and the rising economic development by construction of road networks. 

Some of the Important National Highways in India 

1. National Highway NH 44

The National Highway NH 44, which was earlier known as NH7, covered a total distance of 4112 km. It is considered to be India’s longest highway covering a total of 11 states and linking around 30 significant cities. The route followed by this highway is Srinagar up till Kanyakumari. 

2. The National Highway NH 27

The National Highway NH 27 covers a total distance of 3507 km. The route followed by this highway is Gujarat to Silchar up till Assam. It links the eastern part of India and brings it nearer the western part quickly. It is believed to be India’s financial pulse because of its connectivity to not just 7 states but also more than 45 cities.

3. The National Highway NH 48

The National Highway NH 48, which was earlier known as NH 8, covered a total distance of 2807 km. The route followed by this highway is Delhi up till Chennai.  It is the connection between north and south Indian states. It is one of those highways used very frequently as it connects India’s most important states and cities.

4. The National Highway NH 27

The National Highway NH 27 covers a total distance totalling 2317 km. The route followed by this highway is Sangrur, Punjabi, up to Ankola, Karnataka. 

5.  The National Highway NH 30

The National Highway NH 30, which was earlier known as NH 221, covers a total distance totalling 2040 km. The route followed by this highway is Sitarganj in Uttarakhand up to Ibrahimpatnam in Andhra Pradesh. This highway is one of the safest highways in India, and it is very well-known because of the few accidents that occur.

6. The National Highway NH 16

The National Highway NH 16, which was earlier known as NH 5, covers a total distance totalling 1711 km. The route followed by this highway is the East coast of West Bengal up till Chennai in Tamil Nadu.

7. The National Highway NH 66

The National Highway NH 66, which was earlier known as NH 17, covers a total distance of 1622 km. The route followed by this highway is Panvel and terminates at Kanyakumari.

8. The National Highway NH 19

The National Highway NH 19, which was earlier known as NH 20, covers a total distance of 1435 km. The route followed by this highway is Delhi up till Kolkata.

9. The National Highway NH 34

The National Highway NH 34 covers a total distance totalling 1426 km. This highway is followed by Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand up to the Lakhnadon in Madhya Pradesh.

Conclusion

The Indian National Highway is an essential part of the road network in India as well as in today’s world. These highways help contribute to the growing transportation sector and build the Indian economy. The primary reason behind the importance of these highways is that the connectivity they built by linking every major city makes the entire travelling journey a very smooth process. All the parts of India, North, East, South and West get connected. The National Highway Authority of India put its entire effort into maintaining them.