Road Transport and Highways in India - Class XII

The Great Deccan Highway (part of the historical Grand Trunk Road network or similar routes) historically connects Varanasi to the south, but Chennai is located on the eastern coast and is not a primary node on this specific historical inland route.

National Highway 1 (old numbering) connected Delhi to Amritsar towards the Pakistan border, while National Highway 2 connected Delhi to Kolkata (Calcutta). Saying they connect Amritsar-Calcutta is shorthand for this Delhi-centered network, though technically they both originate from Delhi.

During the British colonial period in India, the primary motivation for extensive road and rail infrastructure development was to facilitate the movement of troops and military equipment for defense and control.

Road transport is the most accessible and flexible mode of transport for farmers to move produce from rural fields to local markets, as it provides door-to-door connectivity.

Construction
and maintenance of national highways is looked after by Central government. National
Highways Authority of India was constituted by an Act. of Parliament, namely
the National Highways Authority of India Act , 1988, to develop, maintain and
manage the National Highways vested or entrusted to it by the Central
Government. The Authority is mandated to develop, maintain and manage the
national highways and any other highways vested in, or entrusted to, it by the
Government.

Vehicles
are a major pollution contributor. Vehicles produce significant amounts of
nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, and other pollution. Cycle is the vehicle
which does not pollute the environment. Cycles
do not need fossil fuels, so that they do not emit any harmful gases. So, cycle
is an eco-friendly mode of transport. Cycling 10 km each way to work would save
1500 kg of greenhouse gas emissions each year. Cycling has health benefits too.

Roadways are essential for rural development because they provide the necessary connectivity for farmers to access markets, schools, and healthcare services.

National
Highways are main highways running through the length and breadth of the
country connecting major ports, state capitals, large industrial and tourist
centers, etc. National Highways in India are designated as NH followed by the
highway number. The traffic on National Highways has been growing due to the
recent economic growth in India and the Government of India is taking steps to
improve management techniques to provide hindrance-free traffic movement by way
of widening roads, grade separation, construction of bypasses, bridges,
rail-road crossings, and utilizing the latest technologies. Even though the
National Highways represent only 2% of the total network length, they handle
about 40% of the total road traffic.

NH-44
is the longest highway in India. Previously this highway was known as NH-07. It
starts from Varanasi (Uttar Pradesh) and ends at Kanyakumari (Tamilnadu). This
highway acts a major link between the north and south of India. It runs through
the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra
Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. Its total length is over 2,369 km.

The Grand Trunk Road is commonly known as the G.T. Road. It is the oldest, longest, and most famous highway in the Indian subcontinent.

Uttar Pradesh has historically maintained the largest network of National Highways in India due to its large geographical area and central location.

The construction and maintenance of National Highways are the constitutional responsibility of the Central Government of India, managed through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

D.  Kerela

Nedimbacherry International Airport also now known as the Cochin International Airport is located in Nedumbassery. Nedumbassery is a suburb of the city of Kochi situated 27 kilometers (17 mi) north of the city and 53 km from Thrissur in Kerala, India. 

C. Indira Gandhi

Indira Gandhi International Airport serves as the primary civilian aviation hub for the National Capital Region of Delhi, India. The airport, spread over an area of 5,106 acres (2,066 ha),is situated in Palam, 15 km (9.3 mi) south-west of the New Delhi railway station and 16 km (9.9 mi) from New Delhi city center. Named after Indira Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India, it is the busiest airport in the country in terms of passenger traffic since 2009.

B. Rajiv
Gandhi International Airport

Roads linking a state capital with different district headquarters are known as State Highways. These roads are constructed and maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD) in State and Union Territories. 

North-South corridor would connect Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu with a 4,076 km long road. The major objective of these Super Highways is to reduce the time and distance between the mega cities of India. These highway projects are being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI).

Kerala has the highest road density in India followed by Tripura. Kerala has a road network of 5,268.69 km per 1,000 sq km.

National Highway 7 or NH 7, is major North-South National Highway in India that runs through the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. NH-7 was laid and is maintained by Central Public Works Department (CPWD). This highway starts from the area Hyderabad Gate in Varanasi and ends Near Kanyakumari Railway Station with junction of Tamil Nadu State highway no. 179.

The major objective of these Super Highways is to reduce the time and distance between the mega cities of India. These highway projects are being implemented by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI). 

National Highway 7 is renamed as National Highway 44, The 2,369 km long road is the longest National Highway of India and one of the major road network between south and north India. The National Highway 44 cross 6 Indian states and connects major Indian cities like Varanasi,Nagpur, Hyderabad,Bangalore and Madurai. Some of the part of NH7 or NH44 is selected as North-South Corridor and Golden Quadrilateral highway projects.

North-South Corridor would connect Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir with Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu with a 4,076 km long road.

The NHAI was constituted in 1988. It is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways. It was made operational in February 1995 and is currently undertaking the developmental activities under National Highways Development Project (NHDP) in phases.

The Golden Quadrilateral is the largest express highway project in India. It connects India's four largest metropolises: Chennai, Kolkata, Mumbai and Delhi, and thus forms a quadrilateral of sorts.

The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is a national highway network connecting most of the major industrial, agricultural and cultural centers of India. It forms a quadrilateral connecting the four major metro cities of India, viz., Delhi (north), Kolkata (East), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south).

At 5,846 kilometers (3,633 mi), it is the largest highway project in India and the fifth-longest in the world. It is the first phase of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), and consists of four- and six-lane express highways

It was launched in December 2000 by the Government of India to provide connectivity to rural areas as part of a poverty eradication measure. 

• The Grand Trunk Road is not only in India's but one of the of South Asia's oldest and longest major roads. The road often called the "Gernaili Sadak" (the Generals' Road) and Sadak-e-Azam ('The Grand Road') covers a distance of over 2,500 kilometers (1,600 mi). It was built by Sher Shah Suri.
  
• At present, it extends from Amritsar to Kolkata. It is bifurcated into 2 segments : (a) National Highway (NH)-1 from Delhi to Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata.
  

Sher Shah Suri built the Shahi (Royal) road
to strengthen and consolidate his empire
from the Indus Valley to the Sonar Valley
in Bengal. This road was renamed the
Grand Trunk (GT) road during the British
period, connecting Calcutta and Peshawar.
At present, it extends from Amritsar to
Kolkata. It is bifurcated into 2 segments :
(a) National Highway(NH)-1 from Delhi to
Amritsar, and (b) NH- 2 from Delhi to Kolkata.

• Road density is the ratio of the length of the country's total road network to the country's land area. It is expressed in km of state roads per 100 km².
  
• The distribution of roads is highly uneven in India. The road density is highest in Kerala with 375 kms and the least in Jammu & Kashmir with just 10 kms.
  

The National Highway 7 is the longest national highway. It starts at Varanasi in North India and ends at Kanyakumari in South India.

This organization was established in 1960 for the development of the roads of strategic importance in the northern and northeastern border areas. These roads have improved accessibility in areas of difficult terrain and have helped in the economic development of these areas. It was formed on May 7^th, 1960.

Zojila Pass-9 kilometers from Sonamarg and at an elevation of 3500 meters above sea level, is responsible for connecting Kashmir Valley to Ladakh Valley

Manali-Leh highway is notorious for its avalanches and landslides. During winter months the terrain becomes difficult and is mostly covered with snow most of the time

• Pradhan Mantri Sadak Yojna is a nationwide scheme to connect all unconnected rural villages by roads. This was introduced in the year 2000.
  
• It is under the authority of Ministry of Roads.
  

Maharashtra has highest national highway network.

The main national highways in Maharashtra are: NH 3, NH 50, NH 69, NH 7, NH 17, NH 211, NH 204, NH 4, NH 8, NH 9, NH 13, NH 16, NH 4B, NH 6, and NH 222. Total length of highways in the state of Maharashtra exceeds 3700 kms. Almost 98% villages are connected via the highways and modern roads in Maharashtra.

• Flyover- An overpass which crosses another road or railway line.
  
• Expressway- A high-speed road with partial access and extra facilities.
  
• Subway- A tunnel under a road for use by pedestrians.
  
• Highways- A generic term given to roadways used to connect important cities.
  

India has a vast road network. It has the second largest road network in the world.
It has the roads connecting almost all parts of the country including rural areas and remote parts. In India the border roads passes through 12 states of the country.

India has one of the largest road networks in the world, aggregating to about 2.3 million km at present. In India, roadways have preceded railways. 

 The historical Sher-Shah Suri Marg is called National Highway No.1, between Delhi and Amritsar.

 National Highways link extreme parts of the country. These are the primary road systems and are laid and maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD). 

The Grand Trunk Road is one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads, running across the Indian subcontinent from Bangladesh to Pakistan.

The Golden Quadrilateral connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata. Hyderabad is not one of the four corners of this quadrilateral.

The Bangalore-Krishnagiri section is a common segment where the Golden Quadrilateral (connecting Chennai and Bangalore) overlaps with the North-South Corridor.

The National Highways Development Project (NHDP) was launched during the tenure of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to modernize India's highway infrastructure.

Mana Pass is a high-altitude mountain pass located in the Himalayas within the state of Uttarakhand, near the border with Tibet.

National Highway 1 (NH 1) in India historically links New Delhi to the border town of Attari, near the Pakistan border.

Attari is the last Indian town on the Grand Trunk Road before the border crossing into Pakistan at Wagah.

State Highways are designed to connect the state capital with district headquarters and other important towns within the state.

Golden Quadrilateral is a network of four or six-lane highways which connects top four metropolitan cities of India, namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, thereby, forming a quadrilateral. It is the largest highway project in India. The Golden Quadrilateral project was launched in 2001 as part of National Highways Development Project. Its overall length is 5,846km.

NH 4 and NH 7 are key components of the highway network that form parts of the Golden Quadrilateral and the North-South Corridor respectively.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the autonomous agency of the Government of India responsible for the management and maintenance of the national highway network.

Road transport is a major driver of economic development; therefore, the statement that roads do not help in development is factually incorrect.

Subways
are the roads which are constructed under the ground. A subway is normally an
underpass for pedestrians or cyclists beneath a road or railway. It allows them
to reach the other side in safety. Subways are found in countries like England
and Wales, the Republic of Ireland, Hong Kong and Commonwealth countries such
as India, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

Road transport is the most popular and cost-effective mode of transport in India for short to medium distances, providing extensive connectivity to rural and urban areas.

The East Coast Road (ECR) in India runs along the Coromandel Coast, which is adjacent to the Bay of Bengal. It connects Chennai to Cuddalore and continues further south.

National Highways
link extreme parts of the country. These are
the primary road systems and are laid and
maintained by the Central Public Works
Department (CPWD). A number of major
National Highways run in North-South and
East-West directions. The historical Sher-Shah Suri Marg is called National Highway
No.1, between Delhi and Amritsar. Currently the longest highway in India
is NH-44, starting from Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu to Srinagar of Jammu and
Kashmir. As per old numbering, a part of this highway was called NH 7,
whose northern end was Varanasi of Uttar Pradesh.

The Leh-Manali Highway is widely recognized as one of the highest motorable roads in the world, traversing several high-altitude mountain passes in the Himalayas.

National Highway 1 (NH 1) historically connects Delhi to the border town of Attari near Amritsar. It is a major arterial route in northern India.

The Grand Trunk Road is one of Asia's oldest and longest major roads. Its total length across the Indian subcontinent is approximately 2500 km.

The correct answer is 21.

Currently, the BRO (Boarder Road Organization) maintains operations in twenty-one states, one UT (Andaman and Nicobar Islands), and neighboring countries such as Afghanistan, Bhutan, Myanmar, and Sri Lanka. The BRO operates and maintains over 32,885 kilometers of roads and about 12,200 meters of permanent bridges in the country. Presently, BRO is also involved in the construction of a tunnel at the Rohtang pass which is estimated to be ready by 2019. It is currently headed by Lt General Suresh Sharma who is the 24th Director General Border Roads (DGBR)

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the great visionary and first Prime Minister of India conceptualized Border Roads Organization in 1960. The organization primarily meets the defence requirement towards infrastructure development of remote Border areas of North & North East states.

The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) develops and maintains road networks in India's border areas and friendly neighboring countries. Officers from the Border Roads Engineering Service (BRES) and personnel from the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) form the parent cadre of the Border Roads Organisation

Kerala has the highest road density and Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) has the lowest road density.

Old National Highway 2 or Old NH 2, (currently National Highway 19 (India)) was a major National Highway in India, that connected the states of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. It constitutes a major portion of the historical Grand Trunk Road along with old NH 91 and old NH 1 in India.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the nodal agency responsible for building, upgrading, and maintaining most of the National Highways network. It operates under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways of the Central Government.

The National Highways Authority of India was established by the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. Section 16(1) of the Act states that the function of NHAI is to develop, maintain, and manage the National Highways and any other highways vested in, or entrusted to, it by the Government of India.

The Golden Quadrilateral is a national highway network connecting most of the major industrial, agricultural and cultural centers of India. It forms a quadrilateral connecting the four major metro cities of India, viz., Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai.

The Hindustan-Tibet road connecting Shimla with Gangtok in Western Tibet passes through the Shipki la.

• Road density is the ratio of the length of the country's total road network to the country's land area. It is expressed in km of state roads per 100 km².
  
• Japan has road density 12 times greater than India. 
  

NH-8 (now part of NH-48) is the primary highway connecting the financial capital, Mumbai, to the national capital, Delhi.

• The longest National highway in India is NH-7 which is now called NH 44. It starts from Srinagar in the north and terminates in Kanyakumari in south. It passes through the states of Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu. It includes cities of Nagpur - Jabalpur- Bangalore - Hyderabad – Madurai. 

The Grand Trunk Road passes through major cities like Kolkata, Varanasi, Allahabad, Kanpur, Agra, and Delhi. Lucknow is located off the main route of the GT Road.

The Mumbai-Agra National Highway (NH-3) passes through key cities including Nashik, Dhule, and Gwalior before reaching Agra.

The Tin Bigha Corridor is a strip of land on the India-Bangladesh border that was leased to Bangladesh to provide access to its enclaves.

Historically, the Grand Trunk Road route from Amritsar to Kolkata via Delhi was designated as National Highway 2 (NH-2).

1. National Highway 8 (NH 8) is a 4-lane (6-lane in most parts of Gujarat and between Delhi-Jaipur) National Highway in India.
2. It connects the national capital Delhi to the financial capital Mumbai, as well as important cities Gurgaon, Jaipur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Ahmedabad, Vadodara, surat and Khedia. 
3. Under the new numbering, it has become part of the NH48.