Indian Road Network Category of Roads Length (In KMS) Percentage of The Total Length

Indian Road Network
Category of
Roads
National
Highways (NHs)
State
Highways(SHs)
Major District
Roads
Village and Other
Roads
Total Length
Length (in
kms)
52,000
Percentage of the
Total Length
1.58
1,28,000
3.88
4,70,000
14.24
26,50,000
80.30
33,00,000
100.00
Motor vehicle population has grown from 0.3

million in 1951 to 27.5 million in 1995, marking
a 90 fold increase, the road network has
expanded from 0.4 million kms to 2.95 million
kms, only a 7 fold increase in terms of length
during the same period and stands at 3.3
millions at 1998.
Only 20% of the surfaced roads are estimated
to be in good condition, which compares
unfavourably with other countries (Indonesia
and Brazil 30%, Korea 70%, Japan and USA
more than 85%).
NHs constitute less than 2% of the total road

network, but carry nearly 40% of the total
road traffic.
Out of the total 162,920 Km. length of
National and State Highways only 2 percent
of their length is four-lane, 34% two-lane,
and 64% single lane.
As far as NHs are concerned, only 5% of
their length is four-lane, 80% two-lane and
the balance 15% continues to be single lane.
The delay on the roads and ports also results in

high inventory costs for the industry, thus
affecting its competitiveness vis-a-vis
international industry operating on JIT(just-intime) inventory principles.
The congestion at the ports and the insufficiently
developed airservices also affect foreign
investment decisions, which often place a great
premium on the infrastructure
Another imbalance is the rural-urban dichotomy.

Much of the network of rail, roads, ports and
airports is geared to the needs of the urban
economy, while the vast rural hinterland is very
poorly served by communications. Of the nearly
6 lakh villages, only about three-fifths are known
to be connected by all-weather roads at the end
of the Eighth Plan.
Freight transport by road has risen from 6 billion

tonne kms (BTK) in 1951 to 400 BTK in 1995 and
expected to increase to 800 BTK in 2003
Commercial vehicles in India are able to run only
250 kms on average per day as compared to 600
kms in developed countries
Percentage Share between Road and Rail in Freight

35
Percentage
42
72
89
65
58
28
11
1950-51
1960-61
1993-94
Year
Road
2000(Proj)
Rail
Faced with capacity constraints, the railway system

chose to concentrate on the movement of bulk
materials for the core sector like power, steel,
cement etc., thus losing its clientele in the high
value non-bulk sectors which often recorded higher
growth rates.
The skewed tariff policy of subsidizing passenger
traffic and an increase in freight rates are driving
away even some of the long distance bulk traffic
from the railways to the roadways.
.
The public sector outlay for road development

in the first plan was 6.7 percent and it dropped
down to a mere 3 percent in the Eighth plan.
Investments in National highways went down
from 1.4 percent of the total outlay to 0.6
percent in the same period.
The Rakesh Mohan committee estimated that
the economic cost of bad roads ranges from
Rs.20,000 crore to Rs.30, 000 crore annually.
Road traffic being largely in the private sector has

moved aggressively to exploit this opportunity
which was facilitated by a liberal permit and
regulatory system for national trucking, cheap
finance made available by the banking sector and
an energy pricing policy which has subsidised
diesel
Road Freight Industry

comprise small operator accounting for as much as 85% of the total fleet.
operators perform only the haulage function, while the marketing,
aggregating, storing, and delivery functions are undertaken by agents,
brokers, etc.
only one-third of the trucks operate between 300 to 400 kms per day
and about 12% trips are empty trips without load
Truck drivers belong to the age group between 18 and 40 years and
are mostly educated up to under-matriculation level. A high percentage
of the drivers (88%) have learnt driving without attending driver-training
schools
The Industry also suffers from the problems of Structure, proper
Legislative measures to regulate and control, Financing, problems of
inter-state barriers, technological up gradation, lack of traffic education
and awareness
PORTS
Ships have to wait long in the channel for berthing and productivity in
loading and unloading is low. The national average Turn Around time of
vessels for Liquid, Dry bulk, General Cargo and Containers is estimated
at 3.4 days, 9 days and 3.6 days respectively.
It is labour intensive and mechanisation process is non-existent or slow.

Night navigation is not available and ships have to wait for daylight.
Equipments used are outdated and obsolete.
Restrictions in navigation channels donot allow bigger vessels to be
berthed.
Handing vessels and feeder vessels in container berths is time taking.
The road links to ports are insufficient and badly maintained
Lack of coordination between ports and the custom authorities delay
quicker dispensation of documentation and goods.
RAILWAYS
Indian railway consists of extensive network spread over 62,915 Km
covering 7068 stations considered as the second largest in the world.
Almost 85% of rail network was inherited from the British.
Broad gauge although forming 64.5 % of the route, generated 95.9% of
freight output
As per World Bank estimate in India, a unit increase in GNP generates
an increase of 1.5 times in freight transport demand and 1.9 times in
passenger transport demand. Expecting Indian economy to grow at more
than 6% per year in near future would imply doubling of freight transport
output in about 14 years
The Expert Group on Commercialisation

of Infrastructure estimated that total
infrastructure investment requirements
would be about Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 4,500
billion (US$ 115 to $ 130 billion) over the
next five years and about Rs. 7,500 billion
(US$ 215 billion) during 2001-02 to 200506.
Most of the studies including the Rakesh
Mohan Committee Report indicate that
only 15 per cent of the investment can
come from abroad and the great bulk of it
have to be found from our own resources.
Good Luck for the future Generations!!!!

Indian Road Network Category of Roads Length (In KMS) Percentage of The Total Length

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Indian Road Network Category of Roads Length (In KMS) Percentage of The Total Length

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Indian Road Network Category of Roads Length (In KMS) Percentage of The Total Length

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Indian Road Network

Motor vehicle population has grown from 0.3

NHs constitute less than 2% of the total road

The delay on the roads and ports also results in

Another imbalance is the rural-urban dichotomy.

Freight transport by road has risen from 6 billion

Percentage Share between Road and Rail in Freight

Faced with capacity constraints, the railway system

The public sector outlay for road development

Road traffic being largely in the private sector has

Road Freight Industry

It is labour intensive and mechanisation process is non-existent or slow.

The Expert Group on Commercialisation

You might also like