The entire network is classified into five distinct categories perhaps from the viewpoint of management and administration. The five categories are:
- National Highways (NH)
- State Highways (SH)
- Major District Roads (MDR)
- Other District Roads (ODR)
- Village Roads (VR)
Key Statistics
- India has the second largest road network in the world with a total network of 3.3 million kms.
- It carries 65% of freight and 85% of passenger traffic
- The National Highways comprise 2% of the road network and carry 40% of the road based traffic
- The State Highways comprise 4% of the road network
- State Highways (SHs) and Major District Roads (MDRs) constitute the secondary system of road infrastructure of India
- The secondary system caries about 40 per cent of the total road traffic and comprises about 20% of the total road length
- Only 47% of the India's roads are paved
- The average productivity of a truck is 200 kms a day as against 350- 400 kms that would be possible through reduction of congestion
- There has been a staggering 100 fold increase in the population of motorized vehicles, however, only a 8 fold increase in terms of road length during the same period
National Highway Development Program
Phase1- Four or Six laning of the National Highways between Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai popularly known as the Golden Quadrilateral comprising around 6000kms.
Phase2- Development of National Highways on the North-South and East-West Corridor comprising 7300 Kms
Phase3- Upgrading of existing NHs, two laning of imp. roads and expansion of crowded NHs to 6 lanes comprising 10500 Kms
Phase4- 4 to 6 laning of addtional 6000 kms of NHs
Phase5- Widen 4000 kms of NHs to 6 lanes
Phase6- Imp. highways would be converted into expressways
Phase7- Construction of ring roads in cities for proper regulation of traffic
Issues
- Rationalization of Motor Vehicle Tax regime
- Urban and Rural Transport Policy which facilitates land acquisition, shifting of utilities, approval for cutting of trees, control of law and order and encroachments
- Encourage the use of multi-axle vehicle
- Technology upgrade for bus and truck manufacturing
