transportation, the movement of goods and persons from place to place

and the various means by which such movement is accomplished.

Importance of Transportation:

 Economic Impact
Transportation plays a significant role in accelerating economic growth
and development. Efficient transportation networks facilitate the
movement of goods from producers to consumers, allowing trade and
commerce. Transportation drives tourism-related facilities, creating
employment opportunities and economic growth.
 Social Connectivity
Transportation allows people to access education, healthcare, and
social amenities. It enables individuals to commute to work/school,
visit friends and family, and travel to their destinations.
 Trade
Transportation is a catalyst for trade and globalization, enabling the
exchange of goods and services on a global scale. International
shipping, air cargo, and cross-border transportation networks facilitate
international trade.
 Disaster Relief
During emergencies and natural disasters, transportation plays a
crucial role in providing timely assistance and relief. Emergency
services, rely on efficient transportation networks to reach affected
areas in minimal time.
Roadways:
The first evidence of roads in India dates back to around 2800 BC during the
Harappan Civilization. Roads were constructed during the Aryan period (400
BC) and improved by Mauryan kings (200-400 BC). Chandragupta built a
2,400 km road from Pataliputra to Takshashila. During the Gupta period (300-
500 AD), road development gained momentum. The Mughal periods saw
further improvements, with Sher Shah constructing the Grand Trunk Road.

Under British rule, many Mughal roads were metalled, and new roads were
built.

The Indian Roads Congress was established in 1934 to standardize road

construction. Post-World War II, road development gained urgency, leading to
the 1939 Motor Vehicles Act.

The first twenty-year road development plan was finalized in 1943, aiming
for 16 km of roads per 100 sq km by 1961. The second plan (1961-81)
targeted double the length, including 1600 km of expressways. By 1974, the
goal was achieved. The third twenty-year plan (1981-2001) aimed to
increase total road length from 15 lakh km in 1981 to 27 lakh km in 2001.

Modern projects like the Golden Quadrilateral and Pradhan Mantri Gram
Sadak Yojana expanded India's road infrastructure significantly.
Types Of Roadways:

1. National Highways:
a. Constructed and maintained by the Central Government.
b. They are managed by the NHAI and developed by NHDP.
c. They connect every major city, port and border point and are the
backbone of road infrastructure.
d. National Highways constitute only 1.7% of total road length in
India, but handle 40% of the traffic. They span over 1.4 lakh km
as of 2025.
e. They form the arterial network of long distance travel and
support speeds of upto 100km/h.
f. Increasing traffic on national highways is being reduced by the
NHDP by widening roads, grade separations and construction of
bypasses, bridges, railroad crossings, etc.
2. Expressways:
a. They are controlled-access highways planned for high speed
traffic and provide high speed, greater safety and comfort.
b. They have several faciliies like access ramps, lane dividers,
telephone booths, CCTV cameras and mobile radars.
c. They usually have 6-8 lanes.
d. The Golden Quadrilateral is the largest expressway project in
India. It connects 4 major cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and
Mumbai while other cities (like Pune, Bengaluru, Jaipur, etc.) also
get benefitted from it.
e. North-South and East-West Corridors are expressways connecting
Srinagar (North) to Kanyakumari (South) and Porbandar(West) to
Silchar(East).
3. State Highways:
a. They are constructed and maintained by the State Government.
b. They act as links between National Highways, district
headquarters, tourist sites and minor ports.
c. They provide connectivity to important towns and cities.
d. They typically allow speeds of upto 80 km/h
e. They are crucial for intra-state commerce and passenger travel.
4. District Roads:
a. They are primarily managed by the Public Works Department at
the state level.
b. They interconnect rural areas, small towns and agricultural
markets within a state.
 c. They connect small towns with each other, SH or NH.
d. They connect areas of production with markets.
e. They connect Taluka headquarters and rural areas to District
headquarters within a state.
f. They are typically 2-laned roads offering a speed limit of around
40-60km/h.
5. Rural Roads:
a. Rural roads make up a significant part of the country’s road
network. (73% of total roads in India are rural roads)
b. Approximately 31% of rural roads are unsurfaced.
c. The Indian government started the Pradhan Mantri Gramme
Sadak Yojana in December 2000 to build these rural roads and
connect remote rural communities.
d. They provide vital links by allowing the movement of agricultural
produce from small-scale industries to markets.
e. They are built and maintained by the village panchayats.
6. Border Roads:
a. Border Roads in India are built and maintained by the Border
Road Organisation (BRO) to strengthen defence preparedness
and accelerate economic development in the northern and north-
eastern boundaries of India.
b. Further details regarding border roads are mentioned ahead.
7. International Highways:
a. International Highways are the highways which connect India to
its neighbouring countries via the Asian network of highways.
b. There are several international highways passing through India.
They are:
i. India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral Highway (IMT Highway)
ii. AH-42 connects India to China
iii. AH-43 connects India to Sri Lanka
iv. AH-45 connects Kolkata to Bengaluru and is expected to be
extended from Doha, Qatar to Jakarta, Indonesia by 2030.
v. AH-48 (a.k.a. SAARC road) connects India to Bhutan and
Bangladesh.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):

It is an autonomous agency under the Ministry of Road Transport and

Highways. It performs the following functions:

 Planning, development, and maintenance of National Highways in

India.
 Undertaking the construction, operation, and maintenance of National
Highways.
 Implementation of the National Highways Development Program
(NHDP) to improve the quality and capacity of National Highways.
 Ensuring road safety and efficient movement of traffic on National
Highways.
 Collection of tolls and fees for the use of National Highways.
 Financing of National Highway projects through various means,
including loans, grants, and bonds.

National Highways Development Programme (NHDP):

NHDP is an initiative administered by the NHAI which was launched by the

government with the primary objective of developing and upgrading
highways in India. It performs the following functions:

 It enhances connectivity by improving links between major cities,

ports, and economic hubs to facilitate smoother movement of goods
and passengers
 It upgrades existing highways to modern standards, improving safety
and reducing travel time
 It develops expressways and bypasses to ease congestion and promote
faster transportation
 It connects remote areas to major economic centers, boosting regional
growth
 It supports national economic development by improving infrastructure
and logistics.
 It includes projects like the Golden Quadrilateral and North-South &
East-West Corridors

Development of Border Roads in India:

The development of border roads in India is primarily handled by the Border

Roads Organisation (BRO), established in 1960 under the Ministry of
Defence. These roads are crucial for strategic military movement and
economic integration of remote border regions with the mainland. BRO has
constructed and maintained approximately 60,000 km of roads in difficult
terrains such as Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, and the Northeast. Key
projects include the Atal Tunnel, Zoji La Tunnel, and the India-China Border
Roads (ICBR). These roads enhance national security, enable faster disaster
response, and improve connectivity for border villages, promoting socio-
economic development.

Advantages Disadvantages

• Flexible routing and door-to-door • Congestion and accidents in urban

service areas

• Relatively low initial infrastructure • High maintenance costs due to

costs weathering and traffic wear

• Roads can be constructed in areas

• Many roads are unsurfaced and not
where railway lines cannot be
suitable for regular vehicles.
constructed.

• The traffic on Indian roads is too high

• Enables last-mile connectivity because all types of vehicles use the
same road.

• Promotes regional development and • Many roads lack wayside amenities

tourism and safety measures

Case Study: Ring Road Project in Pune

The pune ring road is a 173 km long under construction road which aims to
reduce the traffic congestion in the city. While travelling to areas like Saswad,
Nashik, Ahmednagar, Konkan and Mumbai, vehicles have to travel through
Pune causing much traffic congestion and air and noise pollution. The ring
road would significantly reduce travel time and distance. It is being
constructed under the Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation
Lim. (MSRDC). The project was conceptualized by MSRDC in 2007 but after
multiple delays, the state has imposed a deadline of December, 2026. The
estimated cost for the project is ₹15,887 crore. It will be a 4-6 lane
expressway allowing speeds of 120km/h.

Route Details:
The Pune ring road project would connect major highways – including Pune-
Nashik(NH-60), Mumbai-Pune(NH-48), Pune-Solapur(NH-65), Pune-
Ahmednagar(NH-753F), and Pune-Saswad(NH-965), as well as 29 villages
surrounding the city.

The four phases across which the Pune Ring Road map will be spread
include:

Phase 1: Theurphata – NH 9 – Kesnand – Wagholi – Charholi – Bhavdi –

Tulapur – Alandi – Kelgaon Chimbli – NH 50

Phase 2: NH 50 – Chimbli Moi – Nighoje – Sangurde – Shelarwadi –

Chandkhed – Pachne – Pimploli – Rihe – Ghotawde – Pirangut.

Phase 3: Pirangut – Bhugaon – Chandni Chowk – Ambegaon – Katraj

Phase 4: Ambegaon – Katraj – Mangdewadi – Wadachiwadi – Holkarwadi –

Wadkinaka – Ramdara – Theurphata – NH 9

The Pune Ring Road will feature – 8 flyovers, 4 bridges, 2 service lanes, 7
viaducts, 14 subway roads and 13 funnels.

This highway will connect the taluks of Khed, Haveli, Purandhar, Bhor, Mulshi
and Maval.

Impact of Pune Ring Road Project:

The Pune Ring Road project is expected to significantly impact the areas it
passes through and will lead to reduced traffic congestion, increased
property values, and the emergence of new commercial and residential
areas.

i. Real Estate Development:

o The project is expected to unlock investment opportunities in the

29 real estate markets along its route.

o Areas previously considered too far from the city center will
become prime real estate locations, leading to a surge in
demand for residential and commercial properties.

o Land prices in the vicinity of the Ring Road are anticipated to

appreciate significantly, as major infrastructure projects have
historically led to land value growth.
 ii. Economic Activity:

 The Ring Road will enhance access to industrial hubs and promote
economic growth in the surrounding districts.

 IT parks, warehouses, and logistics centers are likely to emerge,

creating employment opportunities and further boosting demand for
nearby properties.

 Improved connectivity and infrastructure will attract businesses,

homebuyers, and developers, leading to increased economic
activity and job creation.

Environmental Impacts:

 The project may also lead to increased pollution levels and habitat
loss due to deforestation and construction activities.

 However, by redirecting heavy traffic away from the city center, the
Ring Road is expected to reduce pollution levels and improve the
quality of life for residents.

Effect on Infrastructure and Connectivity:

 Reduces Congestion: The ring road will divert traffic from the city's
core, easing congestion and reducing travel times.

 Smart City Integration: The project utilizes Intelligent Transport

Systems (ITS), traffic monitoring, and emergency response networks,
aligning with Pune’s Smart City vision.

 Enhanced Efficiency: Heavy vehicles will bypass urban stretches,

cutting logistics costs by 20–25% and de-congesting residential areas.

 Improved Urban Living: The ring road will contribute to a more

vibrant and livable urban environment by improving connectivity,
reducing commute times, and promoting economic growth.

 Enhanced Accessibility: It will make previously remote areas more

accessible, encouraging both residential and commercial
development.
 Regional Connectivity: The ring road will enhance connectivity
between Pune and surrounding regions, facilitating smoother
movement of people and goods.
RAILWAYS