Context

• Kolkata ranked 2nd globally in the 14th edition of Global Traffic Index for 2024 released by Tom Tom, a Dutch location technology firm. It has studied traffic patterns in 500 cities across 62 countries.

Findings of Index

• According to Tom’s Traffic Index 2024, 76% of cities experienced a decrease in average speeds over the past year.
• Barranquilla, Colombia, recorded the lowest average speed globally in 2024.

TomTom Traffic Index 2024 (Indian Cities)

Types of Roads

National Highways

• Connects the state capitals, big cities, important ports and links up with border roads.
• Milestone Color Code: Yellow & White Strip
• Maharashtra has the longest length of National Highway, followed by Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

State Highways

• Joins the state capitals with district headquarters and other important towns.
• Maharashtra has the maximum length of state highways.
• Milestone Color Code: Green & White Strips

District Roadways

• Joins the district headquarters with other places of the district.
• Maharashtra is at the top, in this category.
• Milestone Color Code: Blue or Black & White strips

Village roads

• Connects the villages with the neighboring towns and cities.
• Milestone Color Code: Orange & White strips

Important Information

• Shortest National Highway of India: NH 548 as well as NH 118.
• Longest National Highway in India: NH-44
• India's oldest National Highway: Grand Trunk Road (GT Road)
• SDG 9: Build Resilient Infrastructure; Promote Inclusive and Sustainable.
• India has the second largest road network in the world after the US.
• The length of India’s National Highway network has surged by 60% in the last 10 years from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,195 km in 2024.

Major Initiatives Related to Road Infrastructure Development in India

Bharatmala Pariyojana

• Launched: 2021
• Launched by: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
• Awarded 26,425 km and constructed 17,411 km of roads until March 2024, with an expenditure of Rs. 4.59 lakh crore as of March 31, 2024.
• Aim: To improve road connectivity, enhancing freight and passenger movement.

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

• Launched: 2001
• Aim: To provide all-weather connectivity to rural habitations.
• Union Budget 2024-25 announced the launch of Phase IV of PMGSY to provide all-weather connectivity to 25,000 rural habitations.

Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification & Maintenance), Policy- 2015

• Concerned Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH)
• To promote greening of Highway corridors with participation of the community, farmers, private sector, NGOs, and government institutions.

Golden Quadrilateral Project

• Launched: 2001 as part of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP)
• Forms a quadrilateral connecting the four major metro cities of India, viz., Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south)
• The East-West Corridor connects Silchar in Assam to Porbandar in Gujarat.
• The North-South Corridor connects Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu
• North-South and East-West corridors of the National Highway Development Project meet at Jhansi.
• 4 arms of the Golden Quadrilateral: Delhi–Kolkata, Chennai–Mumbai, Kolkata–Chennai, Mumbai–Delhi.

National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)

• Established: 1988
• Became operational in February, 1995
• Related Act: The National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988
• Statutory Body
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways