Roads in India

Roads in India

• The country’s road network consists of national highways, state highways, major district roads, other district roads and village roads.

• Out of the total length of national highways, about 30 per cent length is single lane/intermediate lane, about 53% is two-lane standard and the remaining 17% is four lane or more standard.

• Through national highways comprise only about 2% of the total length of roads, they account for about 40% of the total traffic.

• India has a vast road network of about 3.324 million km that includes National Highways-66,590 km, State High ways – 1,28,000 km, major district roads- 4,70,000 km and rural raods – 26,50,000km. the length of National Highways in the country at the time of Independence (1947) was 21,440 km.

• The number of different categories of registered motor vehicles in India (as per year 2002 data ) is 5,88,63,000 that includes 4,14,78,000 two wheelers, 75,71,000 cars, jeeps and taxis, 6,69,000 buses, 30,45,000 goods vehicles and 61,00,000 other vehicles.

• About 65% of freight and 86.7% passenger traffic is carried by the roads.

• Although National Highway constitute only about 2% of the road network, it carries 40% of the total road traffic.

• The number of vehicles has grew at an average pace of 10.10% PER ANNUM BETWEEN 2000 to 2004.

• The share of road in total traffic grew from 13.8% of freight traffic and 15.4% of passenger traffic by the end of 2004-05.

• The rapid expansion and strengthening of the road network, therefore, is imperative, to provide for both present and future traffic and for improved accessibility to the hinterland.

• In addition, road transport needs to be regulated for better energy efficiency, less pollution and enhanced road safety.