Highway Planning in India

Excavations in the sites of Indus valley, Mohenjo-dero and Harappan civilizations revealed the existence of planned roads in India as old as 2500 - 3500 BC. The Mauryan kings also built very good roads. Ancient books like Arthashastra written by Kautilya, a great administrator of the Mauryan times, contained rules for regulating traffic, depths of roads for various purposes and punishments for obstructing traffic.

During the time of Mughal period, roads in India were greatly improved. Roads linking North-West and the Eastern areas through Gangetic plains were built during this time. After the fall of the Mughals and at the beginning of British rule, many existing roads were improved. The construction of Grand Trunk road connecting North and South is a major contribution of the British. However, the focus was later shifted to railways, except for feeder roads to important stations.

Modern Developments

The First World War period and that immediately following it found a rapid growth in motor transport. So, the need for better roads became a necessity. For that, the Government of India appointed a committee called Road Development Committee with Mr. M.R. Jayakar as the chairman. This committee came to be known as Jayakar committee.

1) Jayakar Committee (1927)

In 1927 Jayakar committee for Indian road development was appointed. The major recommendations and the resulting implementations were given below.

• Committee found that the road development of the country has become beyond the capacity of local governments and suggested that Central government should take the proper charge considering it as a matter of national interest.
• They gave more stress on long term planning programme, for a period of 20 years (hence called twenty year plan) that is to formulate plans and implement those plans within the next 20 years.
• One of the recommendations was the holding of periodic road conferences to discuss about road construction and development. This paved the way for the establishment of a semi official technical body called Indian Road Congress (IRC) in 1934.
• The committee suggested imposition of additional taxation on motor transport which includes duty on motor spirit, vehicle taxation and license fees for vehicles plying for hire. This led to the introduction of a development fund called Central Road Fund in 1929. This fund was intended for road development.
• A dedicated research organization should be constituted to carry out research and development work. This resulted in the formation of Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) in 1950.

2) Nagpur Road Congress (1943)

The Second World War saw a rapid growth in road traffic and this led to the deterioration in the condition of roads. To discuss about improving the condition of roads, the government convened a conference of chief engineers of provinces at Nagpur in 1943. The result of the conference is the Nagpur plan.

• A twenty year development programme for the period (1943-1963) was finalized.
• It was the first attempt to prepare a coordinated road development programme in a planned manner.
• The roads were divided into four classes:
• National Highways which would pass through states, and places having national importance for strategic, administrative and other purposes.
• State Highways which would be the other main roads of a state.
• District Roads which would take traffic from the main roads to the interior of the district.
• According to the importance, some are considered as Major District Roads and the remaining as Other District Roads.
• Village Roads which would link the villages to the road system.
• The committee planned to construct 2 lakh kms of road across the country within 20 years.
• They recommended the construction of star and grid pattern of roads throughout the country.
• One of the objectives was that the road length should be increased so as to give a road density of 16kms per 100 sq.km

3) Bombay Road Congress (1961)

The length of roads envisaged under the Nagpur plan was achieved by the end of it, but the road system was deficient in many respects. The changed economic, industrial and agricultural conditions in the country wanted a review of the Nagpur plan. Accordingly, a 20 year plan was drafted by the Roads wing of Government of India, which is popularly known as the Bombay plan. The highlights of the plan were

• It was the second 20 year road plan (1961-1981)
• The total road length targeted to construct was about 10 lakhs.
• Rural roads were given specific attention. Scientific methods of construction were proposed for the rural roads.
• The necessary technical advice to the Panchayath should be given by State PWD's.
• They suggested that the length of the road should be increased so as to give a road density of 32kms/100 sq.km
• The construction of 1600 km of expressways was also then included in the plan.

4) Lucknow Road Congress (1984)

This plan has been prepared by keeping in view of the growth pattern envisaged in various fields by the turn of the century. Some of the salient features of this plan are as given below.

• This was the third 20 year road plan (1981-2001). It is also called Lucknow road plan.
• It aimed at constructing a road length of 12 lakh kilometers by the year 1981 resulting in a road density of 82kms/100 sq.km
• The plan has set the target length of NH to be completed by the end of seventh, eighth and ninth five year plan periods.
• It aims at improving the transportation facilities in villages, towns etc. such that no part of country is farther than 50 km from NH.
• One of the goals contained in the plan was that expressways should be constructed on major traffic corridors to provide speedy travel.
• Energy conservation, environmental quality of roads and road safety measures were also given due importance in this plan.

Current Scenario

About 60% of freight and 87% passenger traffic is carried by road. Although National Highways constitute only about 2% of the road network, it carries 40% of the total road traffic. Easy availability, adaptability to individual needs and cost savings are some of the factors which go in favour of road transport. Road transport also acts as a feeder service to railway, shipping and air traffic. The number of vehicles has been growing at an average pace of around 10% per annum. The share of road traffic in total traffic has grown from 13.8% of freight traffic and 15.4% of passenger traffic in 1950-51 to an estimated 62.9% of freight traffic and 90.2% of passenger traffic by the end of 2009-10. The rapid expansion and strengthening of the road network, therefore, is imperative, to provide for both present and future traffic and for improved accessibility to the hinterland.

Road Development Plan Vision: 2021

The Government of India takes up the development works of National Highways through five year plans. However, the Ministry in 2001 had prepared, through Indian Roads Congress (IRC), `Road Development Plan VISION: 2021’ for a period of 20 years (2001-2021). This document provides the vision for the next 20 years for development and maintenance of all categories of roads i.e. National Highways, State Highways, Major District Roads and Rural Roads. The urban roads as well as the roads for specific need e.g. tourism, forestry, mining and industrial areas etc. have also been considered. The research and development, mobilization of resources, capacity building and human resources development, quality system, environment and energy considerations for the highway sector and highway safety are also included in this document which serves as only a valuable guide to the Centre and the State Governments for planning purpose. Salient features of Vision: 2021 are given below.

• To construct National Highway such that, it forms 100 sq.km network.
• To construct Express Highway for fast moving vehicle and Four-lane road having maximum traffic density.
• To connect District Head quarter by four lane, Taluk head quarters, Industrial centre, Tourist centre by two lane State Highways.
• To connect Village having population more than 1500 by MDR (Major District Road).
• To connect Village having population 1000 to 1500 by ODR (Other District Road).
• To connect remote Village by all weather road.