Classification of Roads in India। Highway Engineering

Roads in India are mainly divided into two types:

1. Urban Roads (inside cities and towns)

2. Rural or Non-Urban Roads (outside cities and towns)

1.Urban Roads:

Urban roads are further divided into the following types:

A. Expressways

These are high-speed roads made only for fast-moving vehicles. Expressways have separate lanes for traffic going in opposite directions. They have no traffic signals or crossings, and entry/exit is controlled. Parking, loading, unloading, and walking across are not allowed on expressways.

B. Arterial Streets

These are main city roads used for long-distance travel across cities. They connect different areas and link with expressways. These roads also usually have divided lanes.

C. Sub-Arterial Streets

These roads are slightly smaller than arterial streets and carry less traffic. They also connect different parts of the city but are not as busy as arterial streets.

D. Collector Streets

These roads collect traffic from local streets and direct it towards sub-arterial or arterial roads. These are usually found in residential, industrial, and commercial areas. There are usually no restrictions on parking or loading here.

E. Local Streets

These are small roads that give access to homes, shops, businesses, etc. Local streets can be residential, industrial, or commercial, depending on the area.

2.Rural or Non-Urban Roads:

These roads are outside towns and cities and are classified as:

A. National Highways (NH)

These are major roads that connect important cities, industrial areas, ports, airports, state capitals, and tourist places across India. They are built and maintained by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD) under the Central Government. Each National Highway has a number.

B. State Highways (SH)

These roads connect district headquarters to state capitals and also to highways of other states. They are managed by the State Public Works Department (PWD).

C. Major District Roads (MDR)

These roads connect towns and markets within a district. They help in transporting goods and services and also link to national or state highways. These roads are maintained by the State Government or Local District Boards.

D. Village Roads (VR)

These roads connect one village to another or to the nearest district road. They are built and looked after by Local District Boards or Blocks.