• India is a very vast country and where the economic development of the country mainly depends upon its Transportation.
• The road is one of the most important modes of transport in India. Road plays a very crucial role in the overall development of the country.
• The Road network of India is one of the biggest and second-largest road networks all over the world.
• In this article, you will get to know about the types of roads and highways in India.
Types of roads in India:
Materials:
While constructing a road, the raw materials are decided based on the purpose and type of traffic it’s supposed to handle. Hence, you may notice gravel roads, bituminous roads, concrete roads, etc., across the country.
Location:
This is probably the most common way of classifying roads in India. The location-based roads include national highways, state highways, district highways, and village/rural roads.
Topography:
India has a diverse topography. Some regions are hilly, while others have plain surfaces, which impact the kind of roads the government can construct.
The roads in plain areas offer a leveled surface to drive or ride your vehicle. These are usually straight roads that turn at intersections. On the other hand, roads in hilly areas have frequent turns, creating a spiral shape. Due to the extreme climatic conditions in hilly areas, roads require more frequent maintenance than roads in plain regions.
Traffic:
One can also separate different types of roads in India based on their traffic situation. For instance, there are light, medium and high traffic roads, based on the volume of traffic a road receives. Similarly, you have pedestrian paths, cycle tracks, and motor vehicle roads, classifying roads in terms of the type of traffic a road receives.
Economy:
The cost of constructing a road depends on its function and location. The engineers conduct a traffic analysis to decide the best-suited material, width, and other aspects of road construction. Based on that, the roads can be classified into the following.
• Low-cost roads
• Medium-cost roads
• High-cost roads The
Rigidity:
Some roads require more maintenance than others. The frequency of road maintenance depends on the materials used in its construction. two major types of roads based on rigidity are the following.
• Flexible roads
• Rigid roads
A flexible pavement surface disintegrates over time without proper maintenance. On the contrary, rigid road pavements made of concrete material don’t require extensive maintenance to remain in good condition.
Highways as per Indian Road Congress (IRC):
The Indian Road Congress or IRC is the prime body that looks over the road development in the country. Established by the government in 1934, this apex body consists of qualified highway engineers.
The IRC offers the following classification of roads in India.
• National highways
• State highways
• District roads
• Rural roads
