What Are Expressways ? Details & Info All You Need To Know!!

WHAT ARE EXPRESSWAYS?

Expressways are the top class of roads in India. Till December, 2021 India has a total 2,050 km of expressways. Looking at the trend of dependence of trade and commerce mainly on roads, it is important to develop efficient and high quality transport infrastructure system in the country . Government of India through its umbrella programme – BHARAT MALA PARIYOJANA is targeting on optimizing the efficiency of movement of people and goods throughout the country.

WHAT IS DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EXPRESSWAYS AND HIGHWAYS?

Road used for connecting two major cities or otherimportant destinations is referred to as a highway. Expressways are highways that have controlled or limited access, but are very high quality and have features like access ramps and lane dividers to provide a pleasing transit experience at high speed to people. So, a highway is just a high speed road connecting 2 or more cities, whereas an expressway is a high speed road with more than 4 lanes. It has been acommon practice to refer to highways with 4 or more lanes as expressways. There are toll system to make use of the facilities in an expressway.

WHICH ARE THE STATES THROUGH WHICH EXPRESSWAYS PASS OR ARE PROPOSED?

The maximum investment required for constructing expressways comes from the Union Government. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra are the only states which are investing in constructing expressways. Other than this, Expressways are spread across the country connecting Surat, Vijayawada, Kota, Lucknow, Vizag, Chennai, Bengaluru, Solapur, Siliguri, Kharagpurand. Raipur

FACTS ABOUT EXPRESSWAYS

• LONGEST- The longest expressway in India is the Purvanchal Expressway at 340.8 km(211.8 mi)
• OLDEST- The 5-kilometre long Mumbai-Pune Expressway, which is operational since 2002, was India’s first expressway
• WIDESEST- Delhi–Meerut Expressway, India’s widest expressway at 14-lanes. Delhi–Noida Direct (DND Flyway). Delhi meerut expressway is India’s very first 8-lane wide expressway.
• SPEED- The present maximum speed limit for cars on expressways is120 kmph and on national highways, the maximum speed limit is 100 kmph.

WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF EXPRESSWAYS-?

The National Highways Authority of India has set the deadlinefor 23 new highways, including a network of economic corridors and expresswaywhich will be operational by March 2025. Four expressways, including Ahmedabad-Dholera, Delhi- Mumbai,and Amritsar-Jamnagar are scheduled to be completedby March 2023. Nine more expressway will be ready by March2024.

WHAT ARE THE STATUS OF ONGOING EXPRESSWAYS?