Roads and highways are essential infrastructure that facilitate the movement of people and goods, contributing to economic growth, urban development, and connectivity. They form the backbone of surface transportation, linking cities, towns, and remote areas.
Roads & Highways
ITA > Roads & Highways
Roads & Highways: An Overview
1. Roads
Roads are pathways designed for vehicles, pedestrians, and animals. They can be paved (asphalt/concrete) or unpaved (gravel/dirt) and are categorized based on usage, capacity, and location.
Types of Roads:
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➤ Urban Roads – Found within cities, including streets, avenues, and boulevards.
➤ Rural Roads – Connect villages and towns; often unpaved in remote areas.
➤ Expressways – High-speed roads with limited access and controlled entry points.
➤ Arterial Roads – Major roads that facilitate fast-moving traffic between regions.
➤ Collector Roads – Intermediate roads that gather traffic from smaller streets and direct them to highways.
➤ Local Roads – Serve residential or small commercial areas with lower traffic volumes.
2. Highways
Highways are major public roads designed for long-distance and high-speed travel. They generally have multiple lanes and are crucial for interstate and intercity connectivity.
Types of Highways:
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➤ National Highways (NH) – Major roads managed by national governments, connecting key cities and states.
➤ State Highways (SH) – Roads managed by state governments, linking districts and smaller cities.
➤ Expressways – Controlled-access highways designed for high-speed travel with no traffic signals.
➤ Freeways – Divided highways with controlled access and multiple lanes for smooth traffic flow.
➤ Toll Roads – Highways where users pay a fee for maintenance and infrastructure funding.
➤ Ring Roads & Bypasses – Roads built around cities to ease congestion by diverting through-traffic.
Importance of Roads & Highways:
Highways are major public roads designed for long-distance and high-speed travel. They generally have multiple lanes and are crucial for interstate and intercity connectivity.
➤ Economic Development – Boosts trade, commerce, and industrial growth.
➤ Connectivity – Links rural and urban areas for easier mobility.
➤ Safety & Efficiency – Modern highways reduce travel time and enhance road safety.
➤ Expressways – Controlled-access highways designed for high-speed travel with no traffic signals.
➤ Tourism Growth – Facilitates travel to different destinations.