Table of Contents
National highways in India are an essential component of the country’s road network, providing connectivity to different parts of the country. There are 599 National Highways in India, According to the Ministry of Roads, Transport and Highways (MoRTH). The total length of National Highways is 132500 Km. These highways are constructed and maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and are an integral part of the nation’s infrastructure.
They play a significant role in the transportation of goods and people and are a crucial lifeline for the economy. Spanning thousands of kilometres, the national highways of India connect major cities, towns, and villages and facilitate the movement of goods and services across the country. They also serve as vital links for the armed forces and are an essential aspect of national defence.
Read about: National Parks in India
National Highway List
Here is the complete List of National Highways in India given below:
Old National Highway Number | New National Highway Number | Serial No. in NH Act, 1956 | States/UTs Through which it Passes |
NH 1 A and NH 1 D | NH 1 | 1 | Jammu & Kashmir |
NH 1 B | NH 244 | 144 | Jammu & Kashmir |
NH 2 | NH 19 (Golden Quadrilateral) | 63 | Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal |
NH 2A | NH 519 | 66 | Uttar Pradesh |
NH 2B | NH 114 | 40 | West Bengal |
NH 3
NH 50 |
NH 60 | 188 | Maharashtra |
NH 223 | NH 4 | 12 | Andaman & Nicobar Islands |
NH 4 A | NH 748 | 165 | Goa, Karnataka |
NH 4 B | NH 348 | 161 | Maharashtra |
NH 5
NH 6 NH 60 NH 217 |
NH 16 (Golden Quadrilateral) | 49 | Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal |
NH 7 | NH 135 | 123 | Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh |
NH 7 A | NH 138 | 131 | Tamil Nadu |
NH 8 | NH 48 (Golden Quadrilateral) | 157 | Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu |
NH 8 A | NH 41 | 139 | Gujarat |
NH 8 C | NH 147 | 154 | Gujarat |
NH 8 D | NH 151 | 171 | Gujarat |
NH 9 | NH 65 | 196 | Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana |
NH 11 | NH 21 | 73 | Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh |
NH 11 A | NH 148 | 158 | Rajasthan |
NH 12 | NH 45 | 336 | Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh |
NH 18
NH 4 |
NH 40 | 136 | Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu |
NH 21
NH 22 NH 95 |
NH 5 | 13 | Haryana, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab |
NH 23 | NH 320 | 71 | Jharkhand |
NH 24 | NH 530 | 102 | Uttar Pradesh |
NH 30 | NH 319 | 65 | Bihar |
NH 35 | NH 112 | 37 | West Bengal |
NH 39 | NH 129 | 98 | Assam, Nagaland |
NH 47 | NH 544 | 147 | Kerala, Tamil Nadu |
NH 47 A | NH 966 B | 205 | Kerala |
NH 47 C | NH 966 A | 204 | Kerala |
NH 55 | NH 110 | 34 | West Bengal |
NH 56 | NH 731 | 110 | Uttar Pradesh |
NH 79 | NH 156 | 184 | Rajasthan |
NH 152 | NH 127 A | 87 | Assam |
NH 38 & NH 153 | NH 315 | 45 | Assam, Arunachal Pradesh |
Read about: World Heritage Sites in India
State-Wise National Highways Length
State | Length of National Highways (Kms) |
Andhra Pradesh | 6529.5 |
Arunachal Pradesh | 2537.4 |
Assam | 3908.5 |
Bihar | 5030.6 |
Chattisgarh | 3605.8 |
Goa | 292.9 |
Gujarat | 6635 |
Haryana | 3097.6 |
Himachal Pradesh | 2606.9 |
Jharkhand | 3366.8 |
Karnataka | 7334.8 |
Kerala | 1781.6 |
Madhya Pradesh | 8772.3 |
Maharashtra | 17756.6 |
Manipur | 1750.3 |
Meghalaya | 1155.6 |
Mizoram | 1422.5 |
Nagaland | 1547.7 |
Odisha | 5761.5 |
Punjab | 3769.5 |
Rajasthan | 9988.8 |
Sikkim | 463 |
Tami Nadu | 6741.5 |
Telangana | 3795.5 |
Tripura | 853.8 |
Uttar Pradesh | 11736.8 |
Uttarakhand | 2949.3 |
West Bengal | 3664.5 |
Longest National Highway in India
NH 44 (formerly NH7) is the longest national highway in India, running from Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari, passing through states like Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
Shortest national highway in India
NH 966 B (previously known as NH 47A), spanning 8 km between Kundanoor and Willingdon Island in Kochi, Kerala.
National Highways Important Facts
- The Golden Quadrilateral is a national highway network connecting Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai, the major metropolitan cities in India, from the four cardinal directions.
- India has the second-largest road network in the world, with national highways making up 40% of the network.
- The Leh-Manali highway connects Shimla to Leh in Ladakh and is the second-highest-altitude motorable highway in the world
- NH 48 (formerly NH8) is the longest national highway of India within a single state, running through the entire length of Gujarat from the border with Rajasthan to the border with Maharashtra.
- The North-South Corridor (NH 7, NH 44, NH 16) is the longest national highway corridor in India, stretching over 4,000 km from Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu.
- The East-West Corridor (NH 27, NH 30, NH 31, NH 31C, NH 12, NH 16) is the second-longest national highway corridor in India, running for about 3,700 km from Porbandar in Gujarat to Silchar in Assam.
- NH 52, which runs through the northeastern states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram, is the only national highway in India that passes through a wildlife sanctuary (Nokrek National Park).
- The longest road tunnel in India, the 9.2 km-long Chenani-Nashri Tunnel, is located on NH 44 in Jammu and Kashmir.
- The Bandra-Worli Sea Link, which connects Bandra in Mumbai to Worli across Mahim Bay, is a toll bridge that is part of NH 48.
- NH 66, which runs along the west coast of India from Panvel in Maharashtra to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu, was previously known as NH 17 and is the only national highway in India to pass through four states (Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala).
Read about: States and Capitals of India
National Highways Map
The national highways of India form a vast network connecting major cities, towns, and rural areas across the country. The map displays the extensive road system that plays a crucial role in facilitating trade, commerce, and travel.
Read about: Wildlife Sanctuaries of India
National Highways Authority of India
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is an autonomous agency responsible for the development, management, and maintenance of India’s national highways. It was established in 1988 and operates under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. NHAI is responsible for the construction of new highways, upgrading and expansion of existing highways, toll collection, and monitoring the overall safety and efficiency of the national highway network.
Read about: National Symbols of India
National Highways in India UPSC
National Highways in India is an important topic for the UPSC (Union Public Service Commission) exam. The exam covers a wide range of topics, including the infrastructure of the country, which includes the national highway network. Candidates need to have a thorough understanding of the national highways in India and their significance in the country’s economy and development.
Read about: Union Territories