Last year in June, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari shared that the total length of the national highways in the country increased by about 59% in the last nine years. The rapid expansion of national highways in the country has made it the second-largest road network in the world after the US.
While addressing a press conference in New Delhi, Gadkari said,
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“Total length of National Highways was 91,287 km in 2013-14, which increased to 1,45,240 km in 2022-23, which is a rise of more than 59% during this period.”
Largest Road 🛣 networks:
1. 🇺🇲 United States: 6,832,000km
2. 🇮🇳 India: 6,700,000km
3. 🇨🇳 China: 5,200,000km
4. 🇧🇷 Brazil: 2,000,000km
5. 🇷🇺 Russia: 1,538,875km
6. 🇯🇵 Japan : 1,218,772 km
7. 🇫🇷 France: 1,053,215km
8. 🇨🇦 Canada: 1,042,300km
9. 🇦🇺 Australia: 873,573km— The World Ranking (@worldranking_) December 30, 2023
India’s road network used to cover 5.89 million kilometers till 2022 which were classified into several categories. The roads were categorized into National Highways (NH), State Highways, District Roads, village Roads, rural roads, and other rural roads (ORR). To facilitate faster and smoother travel between major cities. The development of the Yamuna Expressway, Eastern Peripheral Expressway, Mumbai-Pune Expressway, etc proves India’s growing investment in road connectivity.
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Business tycoon Anand Mahindra tweeted he was pleasantly surprised to see India in the second spot, ahead of China in the list of countries with the largest road networks
Anand Mahindra has a massive follower count on social media. He recently shared the list of countries with the largest road networks in the world. He wrote on the social media platform X (previously known as Twitter),
“I was happily surprised to see that we are ahead of China. That must be because the western half of China is sparsely inhabited. More interesting is that we’re within striking distance of the U.S.A.”
Mahindra also tagged Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in the tweet and said that soon India will overtake the US to become the nation with the largest road network. He added,
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“I’m sure @nitin_gadkari ji can set a goal to overtake the U.S. not too long from today!”
I was happily surprised to see that we are ahead of China. That must be because the western half of China is sparsely inhabited.
More interesting is that we’re within striking distance of the U.S.A.
I’m sure @nitin_gadkari ji can set a goal to overtake the U.S not too long from… https://t.co/nxUgYDk0Gy— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) January 4, 2024
Netizens reacted to Anand Mahindra’s post with several comments
Only adding up the kilometres might not give a correct picture,need to address the quality of roads, infrastructure, restroom facilities, patrolling, Ambulance services etc. The countries which are being compared are way ahead in these areas! It’s time to address these issues!
— Seetharaman K C 🇮🇳 (@seetharamankc) January 4, 2024
Commendable. Perhaps we also need to concentrate on road signage, rest rooms, etc. Similarly, intracity roads need some attention too. Most importantly however, we Indians need to show better road sense
— rakesh dahiya (@rakeshkdahiya40) January 4, 2024
Seriously ? This is a joke , with all due respect sir, you probably travel 1km from home to office unlike several Mumbaites who break their backs and bones to get to work on the pathetic roads of Mumbai
— Bhavesh Sanghvi (@bhsbhavesh) January 4, 2024
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The development pace in modi ji rule has been incredible.. No one can deny that.. N @nitin_gadkari ji makings roads at commendable pace.. Kudos to both 👏🏼🙌🏼
— Crime Master Gogo (PARODY) 🇮🇳 (@vipul2777) January 4, 2024
Quality Matters NOT Quantity
— SANAL (@sanalkumar777) January 4, 2024
Quantity we can beat anytime
But what about quality?
When we will meet that?
Things to ponder
Now we are constructing international quality but taking whole 6,700,000 km. Road to that quality will not only take time but also resource and financial burden
— Sumit Joshi (@iSumitjoshi) January 4, 2024
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Development, Maintenance & Management is key. 🙏
— Naresh Nambisan | നരേഷ് 🧘♂️ (@nareshbahrain) January 4, 2024
What are your views on the developing road networks in India? Let us know in the comments.
