Longest National Highway in India: India proudly owns the world’s second-largest road network, with national highways making up only 1.8% of this vast system. National Highways are crucial in connecting the northern, southern, eastern, and western parts of India. The credit for this well-connected road network goes to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The Ministry of Road, Transport, and Highways states that India has a well-organized network of 599 national highways, which are periodically renumbered. These highways play a vital role as key transportation routes across the country, covering a total distance of approximately 132,500 kilometers.
In this article, we will learn about the Longest Highway in India. We will also take a look at the List of Top 10 Longest National Highways in India. Also, we will take a look at some interesting facts about the National Highways of India. Without any further adieu, let’s get started!
Table of Content
Longest National Highway In India
NH 44 is the Longest National Highway in India. It used to be called National Highway 7. It stretches for 3,745 kilometres and goes from Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. This highway is part of the North-South Corridor of NHDP. NH 44 is formed by combining seven old national highways with numbers NH 1A, NH 1, NH 2, NH 3, NH 75, NH 26, and NH 7.
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In India, the National Highways are a network of main roads owned by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), and the public works departments (PWD) of state governments are responsible for building and managing them.
People also read: National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) – Functions, Structures, Objectives, & Benefits - As of April 2019, India has 142,126 km (88,313 mi) of National Highways, connecting major cities across the country from north to south and east to west.
- One important network is the Golden Quadrilateral (GQ). This national highway network links major industrial, agricultural, and cultural centers of India, forming a quadrilateral that connects the four major metro cities: Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west), and Chennai (south).
Top 10 Longest National Highways In India
Top 10 Longest National Highways In India |
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|---|---|---|---|
| S. No | National Highway | Distance (in km) | Route |
| 1 | NH 44 (old NH 7) | 3,745 | Srinagar to Kanyakumari |
| 2 | NH 27 | 3,507 | Porbandar in Gujarat to Silchar in Assam |
| 3 | NH 48 (old NH 8) | 2,807 | Delhi to Chennai |
| 4 | NH 52 | 2,317 | Sangrur, Punjab to Ankola, Karnataka |
| 5 | NH 30 (Old NH 221) | 2,040 | Sitarganj in Uttarakhand to Ibrahimpatnam in Andhra Pradesh. |
| 6 | NH 6 | 1,873 | Jorabat in Meghalaya and terminates at Selling in Mizoram |
| 7 | NH 53 | 1,781 | Hajira in Gujarat and Pradip port in Odisha. |
| 8 | NH 16 (Old NH 5) | 1,711 | East coast of West Bengal to Chennai in Tamil Nadu. |
| 9 | NH 66 (Old NH 17) | 1,622 | Panvel and terminates at Kanyakumari |
| 10 | NH 19 (Old NH 20) | 1,435 | Delhi to Kolkata |
| 11 | NH 34 | 1,426 | Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand to Lakhnadon in Madhya Pradesh |
1. Longest Highway In India: NH 44 (old NH 7)
- The longest national highway in India is known as NH 44. It was formed by combining seven national highways and stretches all the way from Srinagar in the North to Kanyakumari in the South.
- It connects several states, including Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
2. National Highway 27: NH 27
- The second-longest national highway in India is an East-West corridor maintained by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH).
- It starts from Porbandar and extends all the way to Silchar, connecting several states including Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, and Assam.
3. National Highway 48: NH 48 (old NH 8)
- This national highway links two significant metro cities in India: Delhi and Chennai. It was renamed NH 48 in 2010 and stands out as the busiest highway in the country.
- The states connected by this highway include Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu.
4. National Highway 52: NH 52
- This national highway starts at the junction of NH 66 (old NH 17) in Ankola, Karnataka.
- Formed by merging several existing national highways in India, it connects the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka.
5. National Highway 30: NH 30 (old NH 221)
- This highway begins in the mountains of Sitargunj, Uttarakhand, and ends at Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. It travels through various remote districts of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.
- It connects the states of Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana.
6. National Highway 6: NH 6
- This highway links the northeastern states of India and, before the numbering of national highways, was identified as old NH 40, 44, 154, & 54.
- It connects the states of Assam, Meghalaya, and Mizoram.
7. National Highway 53: NH 53
- This highway forms a connection between the states of Gujarat and Odisha. It is a part of the AH 46 network in India and is officially designated as running from Kolkata to Surat.
- The states connected by this highway include Gujarat, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
8. National Highway 16: NH 16 (old NH 5)
- This highway travels along the eastern coast of India, near the Bay of Bengal. NH 16 is a significant part of the well-known Golden Quadrilateral Project initiated by the National Highways Development Project. It connects the states of West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu.
9. National Highway 66: NH 66 (old NH 17)
- NH 66 is a lengthy and bustling highway that stretches along the south-western coast of India. This highway traverses through hills, forests, rivers, rivulets, streams, and more, offering a scenic landscape to travelers.
- It connects the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu.
10. National Highway 19: NH 19 (old NH 20)
- This highway links the city of Agra in Uttar Pradesh to Kolkata in West Bengal. It forms a significant part of the historical Grand Trunk Road and is also a segment of AH 1 in the Asian Highway Network.
- The states connected by this highway include Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal.
Longest Highway In India: Facts
- India holds the second-largest road network globally.
- Over 200 national highways collectively cover a length of 101,011 km, while state highways in India total 131,899 km.
- The main highways are identified by two-digit numbers, and those with three digits are considered branches of the main highway.
- For instance, a highway numbered 144 is a secondary branch of highway number 44, further subdivided into sub-divisions like 144A, 244A, etc.
- Despite constituting only 1.8% of all Indian roads, national highways manage 40% of the country’s road traffic.
- National highways are marked with yellow and white colors, state highways with green and white, and city highways with black and white, aiding easy identification.
- NH 118 is one of the shortest national highways in India, connecting Asanbani and Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, covering a distance of approximately 5 km.
- NH 548 is another short national highway, spanning about 5 km in the state of Maharashtra.
- The Leh-Manali Highway holds the title of the world’s second-highest-altitude motor highway.
- It links Shimla in Himachal Pradesh to Leh in Jammu and Kashmir.
Colors in National Highways |
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|---|---|
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National Highways |
Yellow and White Colour |
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State Highways |
Green and White Colour |
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City Highways |
Black and White Colour |
Conclusion
In this article, we came to know that NH44 is the Longest National Highway in India and it connects Srinagar (Kashmir) all the way to Kanyakumari (Tamil). The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is the owner of India’s network of trunk roads, known as the national highways. The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), and the public works departments (PWD) of the state governments are in charge of its construction and administration.
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FAQs on Longest National Highway in India
Which national highway connects Porbandar to Silchar?
NH 27 is the national highway that connects Porbandar in Gujarat to Silachar in Assam, covering a distance of around 3,507 km.
What is the route of NH 52?
NH 52 starts from Sangrur in Punjab and ends in Ibrahimpatnam in Andhra Pradesh, covering a total distance of around 2,317 km.
What is the old name of Longest National Highway in India?
NH7 is the old name of Longest National Highway in India.
Which major cities are connected by NH 48?
NH 48 (old NH 8) connects Delhi and Chennai, making it an important highway linking these two major cities. The total distance covered is approximately 2,807 km.
What are the Shortest National Highways in India?
NH 118 along with NH 548 are the shortest national highways in India.