Road Transport System in India

Road Transport System in India

Overview

• The present transport system of the country comprises several modes of transport, including rail, road, coastal shipping, air transport, etc.

• The share of the transport sector in the GVA for 2017-18 was about 4.77% of which the share of road transport is the largest at 3.06%, followed by the

  • Railways (0.75%)

  • Air transport (0.15%)

  • Water transport (0.06%)

Road Transport

• According to the MoRTH Annual Report 2021-22, the total road length of the country is 63,31,747 km.

• At present Indian road network of over 63.32 lakh kms is the second largest in the world after the US, with 66.45 lakh kms of roads, and consists of—

National Highways

• National Highways are constructed and maintained by the central government.

• According to NHA,  the National Highways constitute about 2% of the country's road network, but carry roughly 40% of the total road traffic.

[Source: INDIA 2024]

• The development and maintenance of the National Highways system is carried out through three agencies-

1. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

2. State Public Works Departments (PWDs)

3. Border Roads Organisation (BRO).

• In order to give a boost to the economic development of the country, the government has embarked upon a massive National Highways Development Project (NHDP) in the country.

• The NHDP is the largest highway project ever undertaken in the country. The NHDP is being implemented mainly by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

Bharatmala Pariyojana

• The Government of India approved the Bharatmala Pariyojana in 2017, covering a length of 34,800 km, which includes the remaining 10,000 km of NHDP. 

• The total length of NHs approved and awarded under the scheme is 26,671 km as of September 2023.

• The total completed length of NHs is 14,376 km.

• As part of Bharatmala Pariyojana, 27 Greenfield Expressways and access-controlled corridors of length around 10,000 km are being developed to improve connectivity and economic prosperity.

• Some of the iconic projects of India's highway development prowess have been developed under this Pariyojana.

• These include to Eastern Peripheral Expressway, the Delhi-Meerut Expressway-India's first 14-lane highway, the Chenani-Nashri tunnel (J&K), which is the longest bi-directional road tunnel in Asia, the 313 km long Ambala-Kotputli corridor, and the Bengaluru Mysuru Expressway.

[Source: INDIA 2024]

Road Statistics (as per MORTH)

As of 31.12.2022, Maharashtra has the largest share, 18,459.25 km, of the total length of National Highways, followed by

• Uttar Pradesh 12,270.23 km

• Rajasthan 10,706.34 km

• Madhya Pradesh 9,104.64 km

• Andhra Pradesh 8,683.15 km

• Karnataka 8,037.18 km

• Gujarat 7,885.00 km

• Bihar 5,969.40 km

• Odisha 5,897.08 km

• Telangana 4,925.76 km

These 10 states accounted for about 63.42% of the total road length of NHs.

Total National Highway Length and Construction Status

• As of 31.12.2022, the total length of National Highways was 1,44,955 km.

• There has been an increase in the construction of National Highways (NHs)/roads over time, with 10,457 km of roads constructed in FY22 as compared to 6,061 km in FY16.

FY23 Construction Progress (Until October 2022)

• In FY23 (until October 2022), 4,060 km of NHs/roads were constructed, which was around 91% of the achievement in the corresponding period of the previous financial year.

• Total budgetary support for investment in the sector has been increasing rapidly in the last four years and stood at around 1.4 lakh crore during FY23 (as of 31 October 2022).

Some Important National Highways (As on 31 March 2020)

Longest National Highways in India

• The longest NH in India is 3,745 km long NH-44 (Srinagar-Kanyakumari).

• Earlier, it was NH-7 (Varanasi-Kanyakumari: 2369 km).

• The new NH-44 is the combination of NH-1A, 1,2,3,7,26, and NH-75.

• It passes through the UT of J & K and 10 states of Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP, MP, Maharashtra, and Telangana. Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.

Longest East-West stretch

• The new NH 27, from Silchar (Assam) to Porbandar (Gujarat).

• NH 27, the second-longest national highway in India (3,507 km long),  is considered the economic pulse of the country.

• It connects 7 states and 47 cities on a single stretch.

PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan

The PM GatiShakti National Master Plan entails the creation of a common umbrella platform with all infrastructure projects pertaining to various ministries/departments incorporated within a comprehensive database for efficient planning and implementation on a real-time basis.

• The projects about seven engines (roads, railways, airports, ports, mass transport, waterways, and logistic infrastructure) in the NIP will be aligned with the PM GatiShakti framework.

• The touchstone of the Master Plan will be high-quality modern infrastructure and logistics synergy among different modes of movement—both of people and of goods—and the location of projects.

• In order to facilitate integrated planning and coordinated implementation, a GIS-based and data-driven decision support platform called PM GatiShakti National Master Plan has been introduced.

• Use cases of the GatiShakti National Master Plan include connectivity to model schools and disaster management planning etc.

Bhupen Hazarika Setu

• The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, also referred to as the Bhupen Hazarika Setu, is a beam bridge in India, connecting the northeast states of Assam and Arunachal Pradesh.

• The bridge spans the Lohit River, a major tributary of the Brahmaputra River, from the village of Dhola in the south to Sadiya to the north.

One Nation One FASTag Scheme

"The One Nation One FASTag" scheme aims to integrate toll collection digitally and ensure seamless mobility of vehicles across India.

The scheme has been implemented from December 1, 2019, and can be availed upon activation by new cars having Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags on national and state highways throughout the country.

What is FASTag?

• FASTags are stickers that are affixed to the windscreen of vehicles

• They use RFID technology to enable digital, contactless payment of tolls without having to stop at toll gates

• The tags are linked to bank accounts and payment methods

• A FASTag is valid for five years and needs to be recharged only as per requirement

Border Roads

• State Highways and other roads are constructed and maintained by the state government.

• Roads on the borders are constructed and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

About BRO

• BRO was established in May 1960

• It is a premier construction agency for the construction of roads, airfields, bridges, buildings, hospitals, and schools

• The BRO, through 'Project Dantak', is constructing and maintaining a large road infrastructure and executing other prestigious projects in Bhutan

• The BRO is doing a highly commendable job of construction and maintenance in Myanmar and Afghanistan, too

Western Ghat Passes (India)

Final Thoughts

India’s transport infrastructure forms the backbone of its economic development, with road transport leading as the most dominant mode. The rapid expansion of the road network—from just under 4 lakh km in 1951 to over 63 lakh km today—reflects the government’s sustained focus on connectivity.

Flagship projects like NHDP, Bharatmala Pariyojana, and PM GatiShakti aim to integrate economic growth with modern infrastructure development. Innovations like One Nation One FASTag and strategic assets such as Bhupen Hazarika Setu and border roads by BRO showcase India’s push for efficiency and national integration.

With ongoing efforts and record-level investments, India’s transportation system is not just evolving—it is transforming into a smarter, faster, and more connected network for the future.