10 Longest Highways in India: Your Ultimate Road Trip Checklist

Longest National Highway in India

India’s national highway system is a vast network of roads connecting cities and villages across the country. It covers more than 16,000 kilometers, making it the world’s fourth-largest highway system. The Old NH 7, or NH 44, is the longest national highway in India. These roads play a crucial role in India’s transportation network, facilitating the movement of people and goods. In 1956, they established the initial national highway, NH1, connecting New Delhi and Lahore, Pakistan.

Which is the longest National Highway in India?

The longest national highway in India is National Highway 44 (NH-44), which spans a vast distance as it combines seven major national highways. It spans approximately 4,112 kilometers, connecting Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu through multiple states, including Haryana, Punjab, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, making it the longest national highway in India.

As the main artery of the North-South Corridor of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), NH 44 highway is more than just the longest road in India; it is a vital lifeline for trade, transport, and tourism.

​State with the longest national highway network

While NH 44 is the single longest highway, a different exam-friendly question often appears: Which state has the largest aggregate length of national highways within its boundaries? Maharashtra consistently ranks at or near the top for total NH kilometers owing to its extensive network that links western ports, industrial cities, and hinterland districts. Given frequent additions and reclassifications, always verify the latest year’s figures for absolute totals, but Maharashtra remains the safest factual pick for the “longest NH network by state” framing.

National Highway 44 (NH 44): The Spine of India

NH 44 was created by merging seven older national highways, creating a single, continuous route that streamlines transportation across the subcontinent. It integrated parts of the former NH 1A, NH 1, NH 2, NH 3, NH 7, NH 75, and NH 26.​

This super-highway traverses 11 states, connecting a diverse array of cities and landscapes. The route passes through:

• Jammu and Kashmir
• Punjab
• Haryana
• Delhi
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Telangana
• Andhra Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Tamil Nadu

Key cities along its path include Srinagar, Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Nagpur, Hyderabad, and Bangalore, making it a critical corridor for millions of people.​

Speed Limits on NH 44

To ensure safety across its extensive length, specific speed limits are enforced:

• Cars: Up to 100km/h on standard highway segments; up to 120km/h on designated expressway-type stretches where officially notified.
• Heavy vehicles (trucks/buses): Commonly restricted to 80km/h for safety and braking distances.
• Two-wheelers: Often capped at 80km/h.
  These are general national guidelines. Always follow the speed limit posted on the signboards for the specific stretch you are on. Speed advisories may be lower where there are curves, construction zones, urban approaches, or adverse weather.

Top 10 Longest National Highway in India

While NH 44 is the longest, it is part of a larger network of extensive highways. Here are the top ten longest national highways that form the backbone of India’s connectivity.

National Highway	Route	Distance (in km)
NH 44	Srinagar to Kanyakumari	3,745
NH 27	Porbandar (Gujarat) to Silchar (Assam)	3,507
NH 48	Delhi to Chennai	2,807
NH 52	Sangrur (Punjab) to Ankola (Karnataka)	2,317
NH 30	Sitarganj (Uttarakhand) to Ibrahimpatnam (Andhra Pradesh)	2,040
NH 6	Jorabat (Meghalaya) to Selling (Mizoram)	1,873
NH 53	Hajira (Gujarat) to Pradip Port (Odisha)	1,781
NH 16	East coast of West Bengal to Chennai	1,711
NH 66	Panvel (Maharashtra) to Kanyakumari	1,622
NH 19	Delhi to Kolkata	1,435

General Description of the Top Five Longest National Highways

India has several major highways connecting different parts of the country. Here are some of the most important ones explained in simple words:

• National Highway 44 (NH 44): This is the longest highway in India, stretching 4112 kilometers. It connects the northernmost and southernmost states of the country. It was earlier known as National Highway 7.
• National Highway 27 (NH 27): NH 27 is the second-longest highway in India, covering 3507 kilometers. It passes through key states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
• National Highway 48 (NH 48): Formed by merging the old NH 4 and NH 8, this highway is 2807 kilometers long. It connects New Delhi and Chennai, serving as a vital route.
• National Highway 52 (NH 52): Stretching 2317 kilometers, NH 52 links the northern and southern parts of India. It also connects with NH 7 and NH 66, making it a significant route for transportation.
• National Highway 30 (NH 30): Previously called NH 221, this highway is 2040 kilometers long. With fewer road intersections, it is considered one of the safest highways in India.

Shortest National Highway in India

At the opposite end, NH 118 and NH 548 are among the shortest national highways in India, each roughly 5km long. They function as strategic connectors within larger urban–industrial clusters rather than as interregional trunks.

Key Facts About India’s National Highway System

Beyond the lengths and routes, several key facts define the national highway system.

National Highway Authority of India (NHAI)

The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) is the autonomous agency responsible for the development, maintenance, and management of India’s national highways. Established by an act of Parliament in 1988, the NHAI oversees a network of over 50,000 km, ensuring quality standards and implementing projects like the NHDP.​

Facts on the National Highway in India

• State with the Longest Highway Network: While NH 44 is the longest single highway, the state of Maharashtra has the largest network of national highways by total length.
• Shortest National Highways: In contrast to NH 44, India also has some of the shortest highways, including NH 548 in Maharashtra and NH 118 in Jharkhand, each spanning only about 5 km.
• Systematic Numbering: Highways are numbered logically. North-South highways are assigned odd numbers, while East-West highways are given even numbers.
• National Highways make up 2.04% of India’s overall road network, yet they handle around 40% of the total road traffic
• Yellow and white colors on the road signboard indicate national highways, while green and white signboards denote state highways.
• NH 548 and NH 118 stand as the two briefest national highways. NH 118 connects Jamshedpur and Asanbani in Jharkhand, spanning about 5 km, while NH 548 covers a distance of approximately 5 kilometers in Maharashtra.

Categories of National Roads in India

Several categories split the number of national roads in India and the different types of goods they carry. Here are several examples:

• National Highways: They cross-connect towns and cities, and people regard them as the main thoroughfare.
• National Motorways: Designers created these for fast-moving cars. They can only enter certain areas in high-speed traffic. Lower-speed vehicles have their dedicated lanes on certain motorways.
• National Highway Corridors: Highways that link important industrial hubs together are known as national highway corridors.
• National Bypass Highway: These routes are referred to as bypass highways since they avoid cities and towns to ease traffic and congestion on the roadways.

Longest Expressway of India  

India’s longest expressway is a significant achievement in transportation, and it is known for its extensive reach and efficiency. Built for fast travel, this expressway has many lanes to keep traffic moving smoothly and reduce travel time. Stretching across a considerable distance and maintaining its lanes well, the expressway connects important cities and states, playing a crucial role in India’s transportation system. Additionally, it complements the longest national highway in India, NH 44, enhancing connectivity and facilitating economic growth across the country.

The impact of this expressway on travel and commerce is noteworthy. It substantially cuts down travel time between connected regions, making journeys more efficient. Additionally, it plays a crucial role in promoting commerce by facilitating the swift movement of goods and people. As the longest national highway in India, this expressway stands as a symbol of India’s commitment to modern and efficient infrastructure, this expressway stands as a sign of progress, influencing both travel convenience and economic development.

Economic Impact of Highways  

The longest national highway in India network is the backbone of India’s logistics and supply chain systems. Here is how it has impacted our economy:

• It makes it easier for commodities to travel both within India and to nearby nations. This transport accessibility encourages trade and business, which boosts the economy.
• Transporting goods is less expensive when national roads are effective and well-maintained. Businesses gain from lower transportation costs, which boosts their profitability and competitiveness. It is amazing how many national roads there are in India that contribute to the development of the manufacturing and industrial sectors by facilitating the efficient movement of raw materials and completed goods. This can draw in funding, provide employment, and increase industrial productivity.
• National roads are advantageous for the agriculture industry because they let farmers swiftly transport their goods to markets. As a result, there is less wastage, farmers receive higher prices, and food security is increased.
• Numerous employment are created by the building, upkeep, and operation of national roads, ranging from labor-intensive construction work to roles in the transportation and service industries.

Infrastructure and Features on National Highways  

In India, there’s a large network of national roads that cover hundreds of kilometers. To enhance connectivity, India has been consistently expanding the length of its national roads. Among these, the longest national highway in India, NH 44, stands out for its extensive reach and significance. Here are some key features of the longest national highway in India:

System of Highway Numbers: In India, national roads are assigned numbers using a special procedure. Highways with odd numbers normally go north to south, whereas those with even numbers typically travel east to west.

Compared to state or district roads, national highways are often constructed to higher quality standards. They are well-maintained by the NHAI and built to endure considerable traffic.

Many national roads in India are now being converted to access-controlled motorways. Due to their restricted entry points and separate lanes for each direction of traffic, motorways improve efficiency and safety.

• Flyovers and Interchanges: Flyovers, bridges, and interchanges are common on national roads to help with smooth traffic flow, particularly at significant intersections and junctions.
• Service Roads: In addition to the main route, many national highways feature service roads. Local access on these service roads is often used, which relieves traffic on the main roadway.
• Toll Plazas: Toll plazas are common on national roads, where drivers must pay tolls for the upkeep and improvement of the route. To relieve the congestion at toll booths, electronic toll collection (ETC) systems have been used.

Cultural and historical connectivity

Many national highways pass near UNESCO World Heritage Sites, forts, temples, mosques, churches, palaces, and archaeological zones. NH 44 links travelers to heritage cities of the north, the Mughal trail in the heartland, Deccan forts, and South Indian temple towns. These alignments enable road-trippers, pilgrims, and students to experience the fabric of India’s cultural diversity. Over time, some NH alignments have overlain or paralleled historical trade routes, reaffirming their long-standing role in moving goods, ideas, and people.

Indian national highway system: How it all fits

The broader system frames NH 44 within a national grid:

• Directional logic: Odd numbers for north–south, even numbers for east–west.
• Hierarchy: Two-digit numbers for primary trunks, three-digit numbers for branches/spurs.
• Corridors: North–South and East–West Corridors, the Golden Quadrilateral, and other planned economic corridors create redundancy and choice for shippers.
• Management: NHAI and NHIDCL deliver central standards; states contribute local knowledge, utilities coordination, and enforcement support.

Over the past decades, upgrades have focused on widening to four, six, or eight lanes where justified, building interchanges instead of roundabouts at major junctions, and adding service roads for local traffic. As volumes grow, more segments are being converted to access-controlled formats to balance high-speed intercity traffic with local safety.

Where NH 44 meets the Golden Quadrilateral

The Golden Quadrilateral connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata in a diamond-shaped loop. Portions of NH 44 intersect the GQ near Bengaluru and in the Delhi–Agra region via connected corridors. This interlock is essential: the GQ carries intense east–west and north–south flows across the four metros, while NH 44 ensures that traffic running the full length of the country can merge or diverge toward the metros with minimal friction.

Freight, ports, and industrial corridors

NH 44 interacts with major industrial corridors and inland logistics hubs. It acts as a feeder to:

• Container depots that shuttle export–import cargo to western and eastern ports.
• Warehousing clusters outside major cities, where just-in-time inventory is staged.
• Airport cargo terminals for high-value or time-sensitive shipments, such as electronics and pharmaceuticals.
  By reducing variability in transit time, NH 44 helps logistics operators commit to guaranteed delivery windows, crucial for e-commerce, fast-moving consumer goods, and automotive supply chains.

Road safety on NH 44

Long-distance highways concentrate risk because of speed differentials and fatigue. Modern safety practices emphasize:

• Access control and grade separation to reduce conflict points.
• Median barriers to prevent head-on collisions.
• Speed-calming measures and enforcement around settlements.
• Dedicated lay-bys for breakdowns and driver rest.
• Clear wayfinding to cut down on last-second lane changes.
  As NH 44 continues to be upgraded, the cumulative impact of these measures is to lower fatal crashes despite rising traffic volumes.

How to use this guide for competitive exams

• Memorize: NH 44 is the longest, NH 27 is second-longest.
• Remember: NH 44 runs north–south (odd number), NH 27 runs east–west (even number).
• Keep handy: Officially accepted NH 44 length ≈ 3,745km; some sources mention ≈ 4,112km- cite the official figure unless the question explicitly asks for “as per source X.”
• Distinguish: Single-longest highway vs. the state with the largest total NH length (Maharashtra).
• Contrast: Shortest NHs: NH 118 and NH 548- about 5km each.

Travel and logistics tips

• For long trips, plan fuel stops and rest breaks in advance, especially across sparse stretches between cities in central and southern India.
• During monsoon or winter fog, keep headlamps on low beam, increase following distance, and reduce speed.
• Use FASTag to avoid delays at toll plazas and keep cashless balance topped up.
• Check for planned maintenance or construction advisories on the segment you intend to use.

Conclusion

NH 44 is more than a statistic in a GK list, it is the practical north–south spine of Indian road transport. Its formation from seven older highways transformed patchwork drives into a genuinely continuous corridor. Its intersections with east–west trunks and high-capacity bypasses allow freight to move faster and more predictably across India’s varied terrain. For students and aspirants, three takeaways will rarely fail you: NH 44 is the longest national highway in India; NH 27 is the second-longest; Maharashtra leads in total NH kilometers among states. For travelers and businesses, the same facts translate into something tangible: shorter trips, wider market access, and a more connected India.

Read More:–

• Longest Road in India: [NH 44]
• Longest Beach in India: Marina
• Biggest Forest in the World: A Simple Guide
• Grand Trunk Road: Your Travel Guide on Wikivoyage
• The Longest Train Route in India: Explore the Journey
• Longest Train Route in India: 10 Epic Journeys You Must Experience
• India’s Longest Bridge: A Symbol of Connectivity and Development
  

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)