India has the world's second-largest road network, with a total length of 6.4 million kilometres (comprising national & state highways and urban & rural roads). Investment in the road sector (road infrastructure) is very important to ensure connectivity to the last mile. Every year, highways carry around 85% of people and 70% of freight traffic. Short-distance travel is better served by road transit. Roads are classified as National Highways for the purposes of construction and maintenance (NH), National Highways (NH), State Highways (SH) Major District Roads, and Rural Roads. In this article, we will study about the Road sector in India, which is important for UPSC Examination.

Road Infrastructure in India: An overview

• Since ancient times, India has depended on pathways and unpaved roadways for transportation. Metalled roads and railways were constructed as a result of economic and technological advancements to transport enormous numbers of goods and people from one location to another. Roads are the most widely used means of transportation.
• India's road network is the busiest for travel and freight. There has been a steady growth in road mobility due to the fast-rising economy, automobile availability, and improved road connectivity. India's total car registrations climbed from 58.9 million in 2001-02 to 182.4 million in 2012-13.
• However, access to and the quality of public transportation must continue to improve. Increased usage of personal vehicles for transportation in metropolitan areas results in increased road congestion, longer travel times, and higher levels of air and noise pollution. The expansion of the public transportation fleet has been limited by a lack of vehicles; overall demand for buses in FY 2017 was approximately 3.40 lakhs, but availability/supply was only around 1 lakh.

Classification of Roads

The following categories are used to classify roads:

• National Highways
• State Highways
• District Roads
• Rural Roads

National Highways

• The National Highways are the principal roadways that are built and maintained by the central government.
• These routes are intended for inter-state transportation as well as the mobility of defence personnel and equipment in strategic locations.
• These also link state capitals, large cities, vital ports, railway junctions, and other points of interest.
• As of April 2019, India had 142,126 kilometres (88,313 mi) of National Highways. Although National Highways account for only 2% of total road length, they transport 40% of all traffic.
• Golden Quadrilateral: The Golden Quadrilateral is a 5,846-kilometer high-density transportation corridor connecting India's four major metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. With the completion of the Golden Quadrilateral, the time and cost of travel between India's megacities will be significantly reduced.
• North-South and East-West Corridors: The North-South Corridor is a 4,076-kilometer route that connects Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu (including the Kochchi-Salem Spur). With 3,640 kilometres of road, the East-West Corridor will connect Silchar in Assam with Porbandar, Gujarat's port town.

Important National Highways

State Highways

• State governments create and maintain these structures (PWDs). They connect state capitals with district headquarters and other significant cities.
• The National Highways are connected to these roads.
• These roads account for 4% of the country's total road length.

District Roads

• These highways serve as a link between the District Headquarters and the district's other major nodes.
• They make up 14% of the country's total road length.

Rural Roads

• These roads are important for connecting rural communities.
• Rural roads account for approximately 80% of India's total road length.
• Because the nature of the terrain influences the density of rural roads, there is regional diversity.

Areas factors influence in roadways

• Terrain: The density of roads is mostly determined by the nature of the terrain and the amount of economic development. Road construction is simple and inexpensive in flat locations, but complex and expensive in hilly and plateau areas.
• Climate: In comparison to roads in high altitude areas, wet and forested regions, the quality of roads in the plains is relatively better.
• Economic development: When comparing places with a high level of economic development to areas with a low level of economic development, areas with a high level of economic development will have more road density. Maharashtra, for example, has a higher road density than Himanchal Pradesh.
• Industries: Those with a higher concentration of industries will have more road density than areas with a lower concentration of industries. Jamshedpur, for example, has a higher road density than Patratu in Jharkhand.
• Cities and towns: Compared to rural areas, cities and towns will have increased road density.

Importance of Roads

Connectivity to ports​

• The purpose of roadways is to provide unique connections for feeder roads to vital railway routes and ports. This is important to the growth of domestic and international commerce.
• The goal of connecting basic infrastructure is to provide road connectivity for around 50 minor ports and 24 airports.

Rural areas

• By the end of the 12th five-year plan, all communities will be connected by all-weather roads. They play a vital role in the development of the rural economy.

Tribal Areas​

• Roads in districts afflicted by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE) will be maintained, and projects begun in the Eleventh Plan will be finished in the 12th five-year plan.
• Under the Tribal Sub-Plan, a Special Package for the development of roads with a length of roughly 1000 km in Scheduled Areas (under the Fifth Schedule) has been initiated.

JK and North East​

• The start of the Trans-Arunachal Pradesh Highway Project has improved road development in the North-East. For this reason, the capacity of NHAI and BRO would be expanded.
• Strategic considerations are being used to build state road projects in the state of J&K.
• Reforms to the Motor Vehicles Act have been implemented to make interstate travel easier with streamlined procedures. To relieve traffic congestion, truck terminals have been built.

Some recent initiatives in the area of roads

Electronic Toll Collection (ETC)

• Under the presidency of Shri Nandan Nilekani, a group was formed to modernize India's road infrastructure.
• The Committee's recommendations for the usage of National Highways have been adopted and announced by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• In 2012, an ETC pilot project was launched on a part of NH-5 between Delhi and Parwanoo. The Mumbai and Ahmadabad lines would be the focus of the second trial operation.

NATRIP

• The Department of Heavy Industry will oversee the National Automotive Testing and R&D Infrastructure Project (NATRIP) (with representatives from the automobile sector)
• It seeks to establish testing, validation, and research and development facilities in seven locations across India.

SARDP-NE

The North Eastern Region has launched a special rapid road development program to improve road connection between state capitals and district headquarters.

The “Bharat Mala” Project

• Starting in Gujarat and passing through Rajasthan, Punjab, J&K, Uttarakhand, UP, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and terminating across the Indo-Myanmar border of Manipur and Mizoram, the "Bharat Mala" project spanned 13 states and 5300 kilometres.
• It will cost between Rs 12000 and Rs 14000 crores over a three-year period.
• The route is named "Bharat Mala" because it graces the country like a garland.
• This has a strategic component that includes combating China's impressive network build-up across the border, as well as improving border trade and providing accessibility to border-hugging districts.
• If Nitin Gadkari's proposal to use cement instead of bitumen is accepted, costs could rise.
• Due to their stretched bank sheets, private participation to fund the difference may not materialise, thus the onus will be on the government to fund the project after expediting environmental permits and land acquisition to construct the stretch within the stipulated timescales.
• In fact, this project is a late realisation and a delayed response to China's seamless road infrastructure on the one hand, as well as a pressing requirement to avoid a repeat of India's humiliation at the hands of the Chinese in 1962.

The “Sagarmala” Project

• The Sagar Mala project, which Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee unveiled with great enthusiasm on August 15, 2003, stayed dormant under the UPA's reign until it was resurrected under Modi's leadership.
• The new policy envisions a unified policy framework for major sections – owned by the centre – and non-major ports – owned by the states – in order to build a holistic strategy that addresses the demands of industrialization, tourism, and transportation.
• It entails the creation of ten CERs (Coastal Economic Regions), as well as the development of India's enormous 7000-kilometre coastline freight options – rail, land, and inland waterways – for the efficient transport of cargo to and from ports.
• This plan calls for the development of port-based industrial parks, captive industries, and ancillary facilities such as ship repair, shipbuilding, ship-recycling, logistics parks, warehousing, maritime zones/services, offshore storage, drilling platforms, bunkering, container freight stations, industries that require a lot of raw materials, and industries with a lot of export potential to create more jobs.
• It will also help to alleviate port congestion.

Conclusion

The government is unquestionably making great progress in the road sector. However, in this sector, talent development and research are most needed. The improvement of roads will boost the economy of the country. This can also reduce the number of road accidents and can increase the average speed of travel on the highways.

FAQs

Q1: What is the significance of the road sector in India’s economy?

Q2: What are the different categories of roads in India?

Q3: What is the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)?

Q4: What challenges does India’s road sector face?

Q5: What initiatives has the government taken to boost the road sector?

MCQs

1. Which authority is responsible for managing National Highways in India?

a) Indian Railways

b) National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

c) State Governments

d) Ministry of Rural Development

2. Which scheme aims to improve rural road connectivity in India?

a) Bharatmala Pariyojana

b) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

c) National Infrastructure Pipeline

d) Smart Cities Mission

3. What is the primary goal of the Bharatmala Pariyojana?

a) Developing ports

b) Expanding rail connectivity

c) Enhancing highway and expressway infrastructure

d) Promoting tourism

4. Which category of roads connects district headquarters to major highways?

a) National Highways

b) State Highways

c) District Roads

d) Expressways

5. What is a major challenge faced by road infrastructure projects in India?

a) Excessive rainfall

b) Lack of technology

c) Land acquisition delays

d) Abundant financing

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Examine the importance of the road sector for India’s economic development.

Answer: The road sector plays a pivotal role in India’s economic growth by ensuring smooth movement of goods and people, promoting trade, and enhancing connectivity between rural and urban areas. National Highways facilitate interstate trade, while rural roads enable access to markets, health services, and education. Additionally, road infrastructure supports tourism, industrial development, and employment generation. Initiatives like the Bharatmala Pariyojana aim to boost highway networks, while PMGSY focuses on rural connectivity. However, the sector faces challenges such as land acquisition issues, project delays, and maintenance concerns. Addressing these challenges is essential to sustain economic momentum and ensure inclusive growth.

Q2: Analyze the challenges faced by India’s road sector and suggest measures to overcome them.

Answer: The road sector in India faces several challenges, including poor maintenance, congestion, safety issues, delayed projects, and environmental impact. One of the primary obstacles is land acquisition, which slows down infrastructure projects and increases costs. Inadequate financing and public-private partnership (PPP) issues also affect progress. To overcome these challenges, the government must streamline land acquisition processes and ensure timely financing. Promoting sustainable construction methods and adopting advanced technology can enhance project efficiency. Encouraging private sector involvement through policy reforms and expanding the scope of schemes like Bharatmala Pariyojana can further accelerate infrastructure development.

Q3: Discuss the impact of government initiatives on the development of road infrastructure in India.

Answer: Government initiatives have played a crucial role in transforming road infrastructure in India. The Bharatmala Pariyojana focuses on building economic corridors, border roads, and expressways to enhance connectivity. The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) has significantly improved rural road connectivity, reducing travel time and improving access to essential services. National Highway Development Program (NHDP) has modernized the country’s highway network. These initiatives have facilitated economic growth, tourism, and trade. However, challenges like project delays and financing constraints persist. Ensuring efficient execution and sustainable practices is essential to maximize the impact of these initiatives.

Previous Year Questions on  Road Transport in India: Investment Challenges

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

Question: Which of the following initiatives aims to improve rural road infrastructure in India?

a) Bharatmala Pariyojana

b) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

c) National Highway Development Programme (NHDP)

d) Sagarmala Programme

Answer: b) Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

Explanation: The PMGSY is a rural development program that focuses on providing all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages. It aims to promote economic growth and reduce poverty by improving access to markets, education, and healthcare.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2018

Question: Evaluate the role of Bharatmala Pariyojana in enhancing India’s road infrastructure.

Answer:
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a flagship initiative of the Indian government aimed at developing economic corridors, highways, and expressways to enhance connectivity and boost economic activities. The program emphasizes the construction of border roads to improve strategic movement, promotes seamless trade routes, and reduces travel time. By building expressways, Bharatmala aims to decongest cities and promote inter-state commerce. The initiative also seeks to strengthen rural-urban linkages, contributing to regional economic integration. However, challenges like land acquisition, environmental concerns, and financing constraints affect its progress. Addressing these challenges will be crucial to achieving the program’s objectives and ensuring sustainable infrastructure development.