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The total length of national highways across the South Asian country was over 146 thousand kilometers at the end of financial year 2024. There are close to 600 national highways in the nation which control about 40 percent of the road traffic. The highways, however, make up a share of just above two percent of all Indian roads. The National Highway Authority of India is responsible for the maintenance and new construction of the country’s highway network. 

Longest roads

Budget allocation for highway development across the country has increased steadily over the recent years. There were around 87 national highways in the country. During fiscal year 2018, the longest highways were constructed in the south-western state of Maharashtra measuring about 1,350 kilometers. The longest highway in the country, at over 4.1 thousand kilometers, is NH-44, connecting Srinagar in the north and Kanyakumari in the south. 

Safety on the highway

Road safety in India has been a challenge for the government. In 2022, over 423 thousand people were injured in road accidents. National highways contributed a share of around 33 percent of the total road accidents. Nonetheless, highway development has helped in the development of the Indian economy. Faster and better connections between cities and villages have made commutes efficient and comfortable in many situations and created many opportunities for people to travel for work or for leisure.