Top 10 Longest National Highways in India: Complete List

India has one of the largest road networks in the world, and National Highways play a vital role in connecting major cities, ports, industrial centers, tourist destinations, and remote regions. Although National Highways make up only a small percentage of India’s total road network, they carry a significant portion of the country’s road traffic.

The development of modern highways has boosted trade, tourism, transportation, defense mobility, and economic growth. Managed primarily by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, India’s highway system continues to expand rapidly.

Below is a detailed look at the 10 longest National Highways in India.

Top 10 Longest National Highways in India

1. NH 44 – The Longest National Highway in India

Length: Approximately 4,112 km

Route: Srinagar to Kanyakumari

States Covered:

• Jammu & Kashmir
• Punjab
• Haryana
• Delhi
• Uttar Pradesh
• Rajasthan
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Telangana
• Andhra Pradesh
• Karnataka
• Tamil Nadu

NH 44 is the longest National Highway in India. It stretches from the beautiful Kashmir Valley in the north to the southern tip of India at Kanyakumari.

This highway was formed after the renumbering of several older highways, including parts of the former NH 7. It passes through many major cities such as Jammu, Pathankot, Jalandhar, Delhi, Agra, Gwalior, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Salem, Madurai, and Kanyakumari.

Key Importance:

• Connects North India with South India.
• Supports defense transportation.
• Major corridor for freight movement.
• Boosts tourism and trade.

2. NH 27 – India’s East-West Corridor

Length: Approximately 3,507 km

Route: Porbandar to Silchar

States Covered:

• Gujarat
• Rajasthan
• Madhya Pradesh
• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar
• West Bengal
• Assam

NH 27 is India’s second-longest National Highway and forms a major part of the East-West Corridor project.

It begins at Porbandar, the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi, and ends at Silchar in Assam.

Major Cities:

• Rajkot
• Udaipur
• Kota
• Lucknow
• Gorakhpur
• Muzaffarpur
• Purnia
• Guwahati
• Silchar

Significance:

• Connects western and northeastern India.
• Promotes interstate trade.
• Supports economic integration.

3. NH 48 – The Delhi-Chennai Industrial Highway

Length: Approximately 2,807 km

Route: Delhi to Chennai

States Covered:

• Delhi
• Haryana
• Rajasthan
• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Karnataka
• Tamil Nadu

NH 48 is one of India’s busiest highways and forms part of the historic Golden Quadrilateral project.

Major Cities:

• Gurugram
• Jaipur
• Udaipur
• Ahmedabad
• Vadodara
• Surat
• Mumbai
• Pune
• Bengaluru
• Chennai

Importance:

• Connects major industrial hubs.
• Carries enormous commercial traffic.
• Vital for manufacturing and exports.

4. NH 52 – Punjab to Karnataka Corridor

Length: Approximately 2,317 km

Route: Sangrur to Ankola

States Covered:

• Punjab
• Haryana
• Rajasthan
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Karnataka

NH 52 was created after combining several older highway segments. It traverses agricultural, industrial, and mining regions.

Major Cities:

• Hisar
• Jaipur
• Kota
• Bhopal
• Akola
• Hubballi

Key Features:

• Connects northern and southern regions.
• Important for agricultural transport.
• Supports interstate commerce.

5. NH 30 – Uttarakhand to Andhra Pradesh Highway

Length: Approximately 1,984 km

Route: Sitarganj to Ibrahimpatnam

States Covered:

• Uttarakhand
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh
• Chhattisgarh
• Telangana
• Andhra Pradesh

NH 30 passes through fertile plains and central Indian regions.

Major Cities:

• Bareilly
• Lucknow
• Prayagraj
• Rewa
• Bilaspur
• Jagdalpur

Importance:

• Connects northern and central India.
• Important for movement of agricultural products.
• Serves several developing regions.

6. NH 53 – The Industrial Freight Highway

Length: Approximately 1,849 km

Route: Hajira to Paradeep

States Covered:

• Gujarat
• Maharashtra
• Chhattisgarh
• Odisha

NH 53 connects major industrial belts and ports across western and eastern India.

Major Cities:

• Surat
• Dhule
• Nagpur
• Raipur
• Sambalpur
• Paradeep

Importance:

• Major logistics route.
• Connects industries to ports.
• Supports export-import activities.

7. NH 16 – The Coastal Economic Corridor

Length: Approximately 1,711 km

Route: Kolkata to Chennai

States Covered:

• West Bengal
• Odisha
• Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu

NH 16 forms part of the Golden Quadrilateral and follows much of India’s eastern coastline.

Major Cities:

• Bhubaneswar
• Cuttack
• Visakhapatnam
• Vijayawada
• Nellore
• Chennai

Key Benefits:

• Supports coastal trade.
• Connects major ports.
• Encourages tourism and industry.

8. NH 66 – The Scenic Coastal Highway

Length: Approximately 1,640 km

Route: Panvel to Kanyakumari

States Covered:

• Maharashtra
• Goa
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Tamil Nadu

Formerly known as NH 17, NH 66 runs along India’s beautiful western coast.

Major Cities:

• Ratnagiri
• Panaji
• Mangaluru
• Kozhikode
• Kochi
• Thiruvananthapuram
• Kanyakumari

Highlights:

• One of India’s most scenic highways.
• Connects beaches and tourist destinations.
• Supports fishing and maritime industries.

9. NH 34 – Gateway to the Himalayas

Length: Approximately 1,426 km

Route: Gangotri Dham to Lakhnadon

States Covered:

• Uttarakhand
• Uttar Pradesh
• Madhya Pradesh

NH 34 begins near the sacred pilgrimage destination Gangotri Dham and travels through northern and central India.

Major Cities:

• Uttarkashi
• Rishikesh
• Haridwar
• Meerut
• Jhansi
• Sagar

Importance:

• Supports pilgrimage tourism.
• Connects Himalayan regions with central India.
• Important route for travelers and freight.

10. NH 19 – Historic Grand Trunk Road Route

Length: Approximately 1,323 km

Route: Agra to Kolkata

States Covered:

• Uttar Pradesh
• Bihar
• Jharkhand
• West Bengal

NH 19 follows a significant portion of the historic Grand Trunk Road, one of Asia’s oldest and most famous trade routes.

Major Cities:

• Kanpur
• Prayagraj
• Varanasi
• Dhanbad
• Asansol
• Kolkata

Significance:

• Major freight corridor.
• Connects important industrial cities.
• Crucial for eastern India’s economy.

Importance of National Highways in India

National Highways are the backbone of India’s transportation system. They contribute significantly to economic development and connectivity.

Major Benefits:

Economic Growth

Highways facilitate the movement of goods and services across states, reducing transportation costs and increasing efficiency.

Tourism Development

Tourist destinations become more accessible, boosting local economies and employment opportunities.

Industrial Expansion

Manufacturing centers rely on highways to transport raw materials and finished products.

Agricultural Support

Farmers can quickly transport produce to markets, reducing losses and increasing profits.

National Security

Highways play a critical role in military logistics and emergency response.

Interesting Facts About Indian National Highways

• India has a road network exceeding 6 million kilometers.
• National Highways account for only around 2% of total roads but carry nearly 40% of road traffic.
• NH 44 is the longest National Highway in India.
• NH 44 connects the northernmost and southernmost major regions of the country.
• NH 27 forms a significant part of India’s East-West Corridor.
• NH 66 is considered one of the most scenic coastal routes in India.
• Several of these highways are part of the Golden Quadrilateral and Bharatmala projects.

Conclusion

India’s longest National Highways are more than just roads. They are economic lifelines that connect states, cultures, industries, ports, pilgrimage centers, and tourist destinations. From the snow-covered landscapes of Srinagar on NH 44 to the coastal beauty of Kanyakumari, these highways showcase India’s geographical diversity and economic strength.

As India continues to invest in infrastructure through programs such as Bharatmala and expressway development, these highways will become even more important for trade, tourism, national integration, and economic growth. Understanding the country’s longest highways provides insight into how transportation supports India’s development and connects millions of people every day.

FAQs

1. Which is the longest National Highway in India?
NH 44 is the longest National Highway in India, covering approximately 4,112 km from Srinagar to Kanyakumari.

2. Which is the second-longest National Highway in India?
NH 27 is the second-longest National Highway, stretching about 3,507 km from Porbandar to Silchar.

3. How many states does NH 44 pass through?
NH 44 passes through 12 states and union territories from north to south India.

4. Which National Highway connects Delhi and Chennai?
NH 48 connects Delhi with Chennai through several major industrial and commercial cities.

5. What is the importance of National Highways in India?
National Highways support trade, transportation, tourism, agriculture, industrial development, and national security.

6. Which highway follows India’s western coastline?
NH 66 runs along much of India’s western coast from Panvel to Kanyakumari.

7. Which highway forms the East-West Corridor of India?
NH 27 forms a major part of India’s East-West Corridor.

8. Which National Highway connects Kolkata and Chennai?
NH 16 connects Kolkata and Chennai along India’s eastern coast.