Understanding the National Highway System in India

India's extensive road network has a critical role in the country's development and economic growth, with the National Highways (NH) being a vital component. These highways are meticulously planned and numbered to ensure efficient traffic flow and connectivity. This article explores the numbering system, total extent, and classification of National Highways in India.

Numbering System of National Highways in India

The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) introduced a systematic numbering scheme for National Highways (NH) on April 28, 2010. This scheme is designed based on the orientation and geographic location of the highways. Here's a detailed breakdown of the numbering system:

Orientation of National Highways

National Highways are categorized based on their orientation, with even numbers for North-South oriented highways and odd numbers for East-West oriented highways. The numbering increases in a specific direction for both orientations:

North-South Oriented Highways: Even numbers increasing from east to west. East-West Oriented Highways: Odd numbers increasing from north to south.

Major and Secondary Highways

National Highways can further be subdivided into Major and Secondary routes. Major Highways are assigned single-digit or double-digit numbers, while Secondary routes have three-digit numbers, which are branches of main highways. The three-digit number is prefixed to the main highway number, for example, NH 244, NH 344, etc., are all branches of NH 44.

Suffixes for Three-Digit Secondary Highways

Three-digit secondary highways may have alphabets added to indicate very small spin-offs or stretches of these secondary highways.

Notification Details

The specific notification for the numbering system is Notification No. NH-14019/9/2007-PM Dated 28 April 2010.

Total Extent and Classification of National Highways

As of 2021-2022, India has a total of 140,995 km of National Highways, making it the second-largest road network globally. These highways are classified based on their length, location, and connectivity. Key categories include:

Major National Highways: Connecting major cities, industrial and manufacturing hubs, ports, and border areas. NH Network: Managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), a statutory body of the Government of India.

As of 2022, India has over 157 NHs that are four-lane or above, including the Golden Quadrilateral that links Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai, covering a distance of approximately 5,846 km. Other NHs range from two-lane to six-lane, depending on traffic density and distance.

Conclusion

India's National Highway system is a crucial aspect of the country's transportation infrastructure. With the government's focus on infrastructure development, we can expect more National Highways to be added to the network in the future. The NHAI's ongoing efforts to maintain and improve the quality of these highways ensure better connectivity and accessibility across the nation.

National Highways Authority of India

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is a key organization responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of National Highways. Their efforts towards maintaining and improving these highways are commendable and essential for economic growth and development.

Learn more about NHAI