Golden Quadrilateral: Connecting India's Metros

The question asks to identify the name of the expressway that links the major metropolitan cities of New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. This involves understanding India's major road development projects.

Understanding the Major Expressway Corridors

Let's evaluate each option in the context of connecting these four specific cities:

• Golden Quadrilateral: This is a landmark project under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP). Its explicit aim is to create a highway network connecting the four largest metropolitan cities of India: New Delhi (North), Mumbai (West), Chennai (South), and Kolkata (East). This forms a quadrilateral shape linking these key economic centers.
• North-South Corridor: This is another significant NHDP project, but its focus is different. It connects northern India (like Srinagar) to the southern tip (Kanyakumari), primarily facilitating north-south travel across the country. It doesn't form the specific quadrilateral linking the four metros.
• National Highway 44 (NH 44): While NH 44 is India's longest national highway and connects many cities, including passing through parts of North and South India, it's not the name of the specific expressway project designed solely to link Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata in a quadrilateral pattern. The Golden Quadrilateral utilizes and upgrades parts of existing national highways, including segments that might now be part of NH 44.
• East-West Corridor: This NHDP project focuses on improving connectivity across the width of India, linking western cities like Porbandar to eastern cities like Silchar. It complements the North-South Corridor and the Golden Quadrilateral but serves a different connectivity purpose.

Conclusion on Expressway Connectivity

The project specifically designed to link New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata is the Golden Quadrilateral. It represents a major advancement in India's transportation infrastructure, enhancing connectivity between these vital hubs.