According to a report shared by PIB, India possesses the world's second-largest road network, exceeding 6.3 to 6.7 million kilometers as of 2024-2025, trailing only the United States.  From bustling national corridors to small rural pathways, roads and highways form the backbone of India’s trade, logistics, mobility, and social development. They enable the movement of goods, support daily commuting, strengthen regional economies, and connect even the most remote parts of the country to opportunities and essential services.

Are Roads and Highways the Same?

Simply put, all highways are roads, but not all roads are highways. Roads are general pathways used for transportation within cities, towns, and rural areas. Highways are a specific category of roads designed for faster, long-distance travel and heavy traffic movement.

What are Highways?

Highways are major public roads created for fast and long-distance travel, connecting important cities, towns, industrial centers, and regions to enable the smooth movement of people and goods.

Key Role of Major Highways in the Indian Economy

  • Highways speed up the transport of goods and people.
  • For boosting trade by connecting cities, states, and markets.
  • Supporting industries, farming, and tourism via better access.
  • Create jobs and help in faster emergency or defense movement.

Also Read: Difference between State Highways and National Highways in India

Different Types of Highways in India

Highways play a major role in moving people and goods across the country. Here are the main types of highways in India:

National Highways

National Highways are the primary arterial roads connecting major cities, state capitals, ports, and industrial hubs across India. Created to support long-distance travel and interstate trade.

Types of National Highways in India

  • Single-lane highways: The most basic form of national highways has a single lane in each direction.
  • Double-lane highways: These have two lanes in each direction and are designed to cater to more traffic.
  • Four-lane highways: Offer more capacity with four lanes, allowing smoother traffic flow.
  • Six-lane and eight-lane highways: These are the largest highways designed for heavy traffic flow, especially in metropolitan areas.

Also Read: Longest National Highways in India 2026

State Highways

State Highways (SH) are major roads within a state connecting important cities, district headquarters, industrial centers, and tourist locations, and also link National Highways with smaller district and rural roads.

International Highways

International Highways are roads that connect India with neighboring countries, facilitating international trade, tourism, and cross-border travel. These highways are mainly constructed in the northern and northeastern border regions and are built and maintained by the Border Roads Organization (BRO).

Different Types of Roads in India

Explore here the Longest National Highways in India

Expressways

​Expressways are high-speed and controlled-access roads equipped with modern features, and allow speeds up to 120 km/h. Some of the famous expressways are:

  • Yamuna Expressway (165 Km)
  • Agra-Lucknow Expressway (302 Km)
  • Delhi- Mumbai Express Way (411 Km)
  • Outer Ring Road, Hyderabad (158 Km)
  • Mumbai-Nashik Expressway (150 km)
  • Eastern Peripheral Expressway (135 Km)

District Roads

District Roads are roads connecting district headquarters with towns, villages, markets, and production areas within a district, helping in local transportation and regional development mainly.

Village Roads

Village roads make up about 73% of India’s road network. Connects mainly rural areas to nearby towns. It supports rural development under schemes like PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana scheme).

Border Roads

These roads usually connect remote border areas and support national security. Built in the northern and northeastern border areas. These roads have been maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) since 1960.

Ring Roads

  • These roads circle a city or town.
  • Keep the heavy traffic out of the city centre.
  • Improve traffic flow and reduce congestion in urban areas.

Examples: Hyderabad Outer Ring Road, Delhi Ring Road.

Bypass Roads

  • Built to divert highway traffic away from crowded city areas.
  • Reduce inner-city congestion and support local traffic.
  • Useful for smooth travel on busy routes.

Examples: Chennai Bypass, Pune Bypass.

Bottom Line

From National Highways connecting major cities to rural roads linking remote villages, India’s road system is the backbone of its transportation infrastructure. Each type of road serves a specific purpose and plays a vital role in the country’s economic and social development.