10 Longest National Highways in India: Complete List and Route Details

Explore the top 10 longest National Highways in India. National Highways are the backbone of India's transportation network, seamlessly connecting the northern, southern, eastern, and western regions. This extensive infrastructure is meticulously managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which oversees everything from initial construction to ongoing maintenance. As vital contributors to the nation's economic growth, these roads are essential for connectivity. In this guide, we highlight the top 10 longest national highways in India. 

Longest Highway In India

NH 44 is officially the longest National Highway in India. Formerly known as National Highway 7, this vital artery spans 3,745 km as part of the North-South Corridor. It begins in the northern city of Srinagar and extends to Kanyakumari in the south. NH 44 was formed by integrating several historic highways, specifically NH 1A, NH 1, NH 2, NH 3, NH 75, NH 26, and NH 7.

Top 10 Longest National Highways In India

With over 200 national highways crisscrossing the country, navigating the network can be complex. Below, we have curated a list of the top 11 longest national highways in India, detailing their primary routes and total distances.

S. No	National Highway	Distance (in km)	Route
1	NH 44 (old NH 7)	3,745	Srinagar to Kanyakumari
2	NH 27	3,507	Porbandar in Gujarat to Silchar in Assam
3	NH 48 (old NH 8)	2,807	Delhi to Chennai
4	NH 52	2,317	Sangrur, Punjab to Ankola, Karnataka
5	NH 30 (Old NH 221)	2,040	Sitarganj in Uttarakhand to Ibrahimpatnam in Andhra Pradesh.
6	NH 6	1,873	Jorabat in Meghalaya and terminates at Selling in Mizoram
7	NH 53	1,781	Hajira in Gujarat and Pradip port in Odisha.
8	NH 16 (Old NH 5)	1,711	East coast of West Bengal to Chennai in Tamil Nadu.
9	NH 66 (Old NH 17)	1,622	Panvel and terminates at Kanyakumari
10	NH 19 (Old NH 20)	1,435	Delhi to Kolkata
11	NH 34	1,426	Gangotri Dham in Uttarakhand to Lakhnadon in Madhya Pradesh

Longest Highway In India: NH 44

                                                        image source: https://www.mapsofindia.com/

Longest Highway In India

The National Highways network in India is overseen by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. Construction and management duties are shared by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL), and various state Public Works Departments (PWD). As of 2019, India's highway network spans approximately 142,126 km, serving as the primary transport corridors between major cities across the nation.

The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is a prestigious highway network linking India's most significant agricultural, industrial, and cultural hubs. This quadrilateral-shaped route connects the four major metropolitan cities: Delhi in the north, Kolkata in the east, Mumbai in the west, and Chennai in the south.

Longest Highway In India: Facts

➤India possesses the second largest road network globally.

➤The combined length of over 200 national highways totals 101,011 km, complemented by 131,899 km of state highways.

➤Main highways feature 2-digit numbers, while 3-digit numbered highways are generally classified as branches or spurs of the primary routes.

➤For example, Highway 144 is a secondary branch of NH 44. These are further categorized by alphabetical suffixes, such as 144A or 244A.

➤Despite accounting for only 1.8% of India's total road length, national highways facilitate 40% of the country's total road traffic.

➤Understanding Highway Color Coding:

*Yellow and white markers denote national highways.

*Green and white markers denote state highways.

*Black and white markers denote city highways.

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➤NH 118 and NH 548 hold the title for the shortest national highways in India, each spanning approximately 5 km. NH 118 connects Asanbani to Jamshedpur in Jharkhand, while NH 548 is located in Maharashtra.

➤The Leh-Manali Highway is recognized as the second highest-altitude motorable road globally, connecting Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, to Leh in Ladakh.