View source for National Highways Development Project

{{Short description|Project to upgrade major highways in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2017}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2017}}
{{update|date=February 2018}}

The '''National Highways Development Project''' (NHDP) was a project of four laning of existing national highways and six laning of selected major national highways of India. The project was started in 1998 under the leadership of [[Prime Minister of India|Prime Minister]], [[Atal Bihari Vajpayee]]. [[National Highway (India)|National Highways]] account for only about 2% of the total length of roads, but carry about 40% of the total traffic across the length and breadth of the country. This project is managed by the [[National Highways Authority of India]] (NHAI) under the [[Government of India#The Union Ministries|Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways]].  The NHDP represents 49,260&nbsp;km of roads and highways work and construction in order to boost economic development of the country. The government has planned to end the NHDP program in early 2018 and subsume the ongoing projects under a larger [[Bharatmala]] project.

[[File:India roadway map.svg|thumb|The Network of National Highways in India]]

==Project phases==
The project is composed of the following phases:

* Phase I: The [[Golden Quadrilateral]] (GQ; 5,846&nbsp;km) connecting the four major cities of [[Delhi]], [[Mumbai]], [[Chennai]] and [[Kolkata]]. This project, connecting four metro cities, is {{convert|5,846|km|mi|abbr=on}}. Total cost of the project is Rs.300 billion (US$6.8 billion), funded largely by the government’s special petroleum product tax revenues and government borrowing. In January 2012, India announced the four-lane GQ highway network as complete.<ref>{{cite web|title=Govt declares Golden Quadrilateral complete|publisher=The Indian Express|date=7 January 2012|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-declares-Golden-Quadrilateral-complete/896873/}}</ref><ref name="nhai_progress">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhai.org/gqmain_english.htm|title=National Highways Development Project Map|publisher=National Highways Institute of India}}</ref>
* Phase II: North-South and East-West corridors comprising national highways connecting four extreme points of the country. The [[North–South and East–West Corridor]] (NS-EW; 7,142&nbsp;km) connecting [[Srinagar]] in the north to [[Kanyakumari (town)|Kanyakumari]] in the south, including spur from [[Salem, Tamil Nadu|Salem]] to [[Kanyakumari]] (Via [[Coimbatore]] and [[Kochi]]) and [[Silchar]] in the east to [[Porbandar]] in the west. Total length of the network is  {{convert|7,142|km|mi|abbr=on}}. As of 31 October 2016, 90.99% of the project had been completed, 5.47% of the project work is under Implementation and 3.52% of the total length is left.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nhai.org/nsewimplementation.asp |title=Archived copy |access-date=12 November 2016 |archive-date=1 January 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101183843/http://www.nhai.org/nsewimplementation.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nhai.org/implementation.asp |title=Archived copy |access-date=12 November 2016 |archive-date=4 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804025214/http://www.nhai.org/implementation.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> It also includes Port connectivity and other projects — {{convert|435|km|mi|abbr=on}}. The final completion date to 28 February 2009 at a cost of Rs.350 billion (US$8 billion), with funding similar to Phase I.
* Phase III: The government on 12 April 2007 approved NHDP-III to upgrade {{convert|12,109|km|mi|abbr=on}}of national highways on a Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis, which takes into account high-density traffic, connectivity of state capitals via NHDP Phase I and II, and connectivity to centres of economic importance.
* Phase IV: The government on 18 June 2008 approved widening {{convert|20,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of highway that were not part of Phase I, II, or III. Phase IV will convert existing single-lane highways into two lanes with paved shoulders. 
* Phase V: As road traffic increases over time, a number of four-lane highways will need to be upgraded/expanded to six lanes. On 5 October 2006 the government approved for upgrade of about {{convert|5,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} of four-lane roads.
* Phase VI: The government is working on constructing {{convert|1,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} [[Expressways of India|expressways]] that would connect major commercial and industrial townships. It has already identified {{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on}} of Vadodara (earlier Baroda)-Mumbai section that would connect to the existing Vadodara (earlier Baroda)-Ahmedabad section. The [[World Bank]] is studying this project. The project will be funded on BOT basis. The {{convert|334|km|mi|abbr=on}} Expressway between [[Chennai]]—[[Bangalore]] and {{convert|277|km|mi|abbr=on}} Expressway between [[Kolkata]]—[[Dhanbad]] has been identified and feasibility study and DPR contract has been awarded by NHAI.
* Phase VII: This phase calls for improvements to city road networks by adding ring roads to enable easier connectivity with national highways to important cities. In addition, improvements will be made to stretches of national highways that require additional flyovers and bypasses given population and housing growth along the highways and increasing traffic. The government has planned to invest Rs. 16,680 Cr for this phase. The {{convert|19|km|mi|abbr=on}} long [[Chennai Port]]—[[Maduravoyal]] Elevated Expressway is being executed under this phase.

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+National Highways Development Project at a glance
|-
! NHDP Phase !! Particulars !! Length !! Indicative cost ₹ ( in cr)
|-
|NHDP-I & II ||Balance work of GQ and EW-NS corridors ||{{convert|13,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} ||42,000
|-
|NHDP-III ||4-laning ||{{convert|10,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||55,000
|-
|NHDP-IV ||2-laning ||{{convert|20,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||25,000
|-
|NHDP-V ||6-laning of selected stretches ||{{convert|5,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||17,500
|-
|NHDP-VI ||Development of expressways ||{{convert|1,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||15,000
|-
|NHDP-VII ||Ring Roads, Bypasses, Grade Separators, Service Roads etc. ||{{convert|700|km|mi|abbr=on}} ||15,000
|-
| ||Total ||{{convert|45,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||1,690,500 (Revised to 2,200,000)
|}
Note: 1 crore= 10 million
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+Timeline of the National Highways Development Project
!Priority!!NHDP Phase!!Length (km)!!Status!!Approval!!Completion Target
|-
!1
|Phase I||{{convert|5,846|km|mi|abbr=on}}|| Complete ||December 2000||December 2006
|-
!2
|Phase II||{{convert|7,300|km|mi|abbr=on}}||Award in progress ||December 2003||December 2009
|-
!3
|Phase III A||{{convert|4,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||Already identified ||March 2005||December 2009
|-
!4
|Phase V||{{convert|6,500|km|mi|abbr=on}}||5700&nbsp;km of GQ + 800&nbsp;km to be identified ||November 2005||December 2012
|-
!5
|Phase III B||{{convert|6,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||Already identified ||March 2006 ||December 2012
|-
!6
|Phase VII A||{{convert|700|km|mi|abbr=on}}||Ring roads to be identified ||December 2006||December 2012
|-
!7
|Phase IV A||{{convert|5,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||To be identified ||December 2006||December 2012
|-
!8
|Phase VII B||||Ring roads to be identified ||December 2007||December 2013
|-
!9
|Phase IV B||{{convert|5,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||To be identified ||December 2007||December 2013
|-
!10
|Phase VI A||{{convert|400|km|mi|abbr=on}}||Already identified ||December 2007||December 2014
|-
!11
|Phase VII C||||Ring roads to be identified ||December 2008||December 2014
|-
!12
|Phase IV C||{{convert|5,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||To be identified ||December 2008||December 2014
|-
!13
|Phase VI B||{{convert|600|km|mi|abbr=on}}||To be identified ||December 2008||December 2015
|-
!14
|Phase IV D||{{convert|5,000|km|mi|abbr=on}}||To be identified ||December 2009||December 2015
|}
{{cite web|title=Financing of the National Highway Development Programme|url=http://infrastructure.gov.in/pdf/NHDP.pdf|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228102300/http://infrastructure.gov.in/pdf/NHDP.pdf|archivedate=28 February 2007|df=dmy-all}}

==Status from NHAI website ==
National Highways Development Project is being implemented in all phases. The present phases are improving more than 49,260&nbsp;km of arterial routes of NH network to international standards. The project-wise details of NHDP all phases is below as of 18 May 2021:

{| class="wikitable"
| colspan="7" |NATIONAL HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT PROJECT(NHDP)
|-
| colspan="2" |Projects
|Total Length(Km.)
|Already 4/6 Laned(Km.)
|Under Implementation (Km.)
|Contracts Under Implementation (No.)
|Balance length for award(Km.)
|-
| rowspan="9" |NHDP
|GQ
|'''5,846'''
|'''5,846'''

'''(100.00%)'''
|'''0'''
|'''0'''
|'''-'''
|-
|NS - EW

Ph. I & II  
|'''7,142'''
|'''6,568'''
|300
|28
| 274
|-
|Port

Connectivity
|'''435'''
|'''383'''
|52
|7
|'''-'''
|-
|NHDP Phase III 
|'''11,809'''
|'''7,621'''
|'''2,161'''
|'''71'''
|'''2,027'''
|-
|NHDP   Phase IV
|'''13,203'''
|'''4,058'''
|'''6,050'''
|'''105'''
|'''3,095'''
|-
|'''NHDP Phase V'''
|'''6,500'''
|'''2,564'''
|'''1,428'''
|'''33'''
|'''2,508'''
|-
|'''NHDP Phase VI'''
|'''1,000'''
|'''-'''
|'''184'''
|'''9'''
|'''816'''
|-
|NHDP Phase VII
|'''700'''
|'''22'''
|'''94'''
|'''4'''
|'''584'''
|-
|NHDP   Total
|'''46,635'''
|'''27,062'''
|'''10,269'''
|'''257'''
|'''9,304'''
|-
| colspan="2" |Others (Ph.-I, Ph.-II & Misc.)
|'''2,048'''
|'''1,743'''
|'''305'''
|'''18'''
|'''-'''
|-
| colspan="2" |SARDP -NE
|'''110'''
|'''110'''
|0
|'''1'''
|'''-'''
|-
| colspan="2" |Total by NHAI
|'''48,589'''
|'''28,915*'''
|'''10,574'''
|'''276'''
|'''9,304'''
|-
| colspan="7" |'''*Total 20,000&nbsp;km was approved under NHDP Phase IV, out of which 13,203&nbsp;km was assigned to NHAI and remaining Km with MoRTH.''' <ref>{{Cite web|title=National Highways Authority of India, Ministry of Road Transport & Highways, Government of India|url=https://nhai.gov.in/#/about-nhdp|access-date=2021-05-18|website=nhai.gov.in}}</ref>
|-
| colspan="7" |
|}

== Subsummation in Bharatmala project ==
National Highway Development Project will close by first half of 2018, with the launch of [[Bharatmala]] project.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.livemint.com/Politics/6T8iabtZriwl0GGtOXzjKP/NDA-to-kick-off-Indias-most-ambitious-roads-programme-ever.html|title=NDA to kick off India's most ambitious roads programme ever|last=Sood|first=Jyotika|date=2017-04-18|work=livemint.com/|access-date=2017-06-25}}</ref> 10,000&nbsp;km of highway construction left under NHDP will be merged with Phase I of the Bharatmala.<ref name=":0" /> {{Citation needed span|text=[[Sagar Mala project|Sagarmala]] and [[Setu Bharatam]] are also expected to fill in the void created by closure of NHDP project.|date=December 2020}}

==See also==
{{Portal|India|Transport|Roads|Railways}}

; Similar rail development
* [[Future of rail transport in India]], rail development

; Similar roads development
* [[Bharatmala]]
** [[Diamond Quadrilateral]], Subsumed in Bharatmala
** [[Golden Quadrilateral]], completed national road development connectivity older scheme
** [[North-South and East-West Corridor]], Subsumed in Bharatmala
* [[India-China Border Roads]], Subsumed in Bharatmala
* [[Expressways of India]]
* [[Setu Bharatam]], river road bridge development in India

; Similar ports and river transport development
* [[Indian Rivers Inter-link]]
* [[List of national waterways in India]]
* [[Sagar Mala project]], national water port development connectivity scheme

; Similar air transport development
* [[Indian Human Spaceflight Programme]]
* [[UDAN]], national airport development connectivity scheme

; Highways in India
* [[List of national highways in India]]

; General
* [[Transport in India]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://indiaenews.com/2006-07/13939-rs32-trillion-infrastructure-11th.htm "Rs. 3.2 trillion for infrastructure in 11th plan"]{{dead link|date=January 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} - India e-News article, dated 6 July 2006.
* [http://www.nhai.org/NhaiProjectPhotographs.asp NHAI Project Photographs]
* [https://archive.today/20130105104435/http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/indiahighways/ India Highways Group with many pictures]
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/04/international/asia/04highway.html?ex=1291352400&en=d77dd2ca4f760ef0&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss&pagewanted=all 'Mile by Mile, India Paves a Smoother Future'] — extremely detailed [[New York Times]] article, dated 4 December 2005 (''free registration required'')
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20140702232143/http://indiatransportportal.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/2014_Road_Construction_NHDP.pdf National Highways Development Project: Get The Facts 2014]}}
*[http://www.fii-news.com/nhai-list-rs-30bn-masala-bond-sgx/ NHAI list Rs.30bn masala bond on Singapore Exchange (SGX) to boost infrastructure development fund]

{{Transport in India}}

[[Category:Roads in India]]
[[Category:National highways of India|Deveolpment Project-NHDP]]
[[Category:Proposed road infrastructure in India]]
[[Category:Ministry of Road Transport and Highways]]