The Indian National Highway System (NH system) refers to the network of highways that play a crucial role in connecting various parts of the country, facilitating the movement of goods and people. These highways are designated and maintained by the Indian government, and they are key to economic growth, transportation, and national integration.

Key Features of the Indian National Highway System:

1. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI):

NHAI is the primary government agency responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of national highways in India. It was established in 1988 under an Act of Parliament.

2. Types of National Highways:

• NH (National Highways): These are the main roads that connect major cities, towns, and states across the country.
• Expressways: A subset of national highways, these are high-speed roads designed for fast and safe travel. For example, the Delhi-Mumbai Expressway.
• Golden Quadrilateral (GQ): This is a major project involving four-lane highways connecting four major cities—Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata—forming a quadrilateral across India.
• North-South and East-West Corridors: These are strategic corridors designed to improve connectivity between the northern and southern parts, and the eastern and western parts of India.

3. Classification of Highways:

National Highways are classified according to their importance and the type of traffic they handle. The most important highways are usually numbered with a "1" at the beginning, such as NH1 (Delhi to Amritsar).

4. Highway Numbers:

Highways in India are numbered systematically. For example, odd-numbered highways generally run from north to south, while even-numbered highways run from east to west. Major highways like NH 1 connect large cities, while smaller routes serve regional connectivity.

5. Economic Impact:

National highways are critical for the transport of goods, agricultural produce, and industrial products. They contribute significantly to the country's GDP by improving trade and commerce.

6. Expansion and Upgrades:

Over the past decade, India has focused on modernizing and expanding its highway network. This includes upgrading older roads to expressways, constructing new bridges, and expanding road lanes to accommodate the increasing traffic flow.

7. Road Safety:

The government is also working on improving road safety by implementing better traffic management systems, establishing toll plazas, and introducing awareness campaigns.

8. Toll System:

Many national highways in India are toll roads, where drivers pay a fee to use the highway. The revenue collected from tolls is used for the maintenance and development of the roads.

Major Projects and Plans:

• Bharatmala Pariyojana: Launched in 2017, this is an ambitious project aimed at improving road infrastructure across India, focusing on economic corridors, border roads, and coastal roads.
• Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFC): These corridors, part of the larger transportation network, are designed specifically for freight transport, reducing the pressure on regular highways.

Challenges:

• Maintenance and Repairs: Due to the sheer size of the network, maintaining and upgrading roads is a continuous challenge.
• Congestion: Traffic congestion is a major issue on busy highways, especially around urban areas.
• Safety Issues: Road safety remains a concern, with a high number of accidents on national highways.

Overall, the Indian National Highway System plays an essential role in the country's transportation infrastructure, and ongoing efforts are being made to improve and expand the network to meet future demands.