India’s road network has grown rapidly in recent years, with National Expressways emerging as the country’s fastest and most advanced roads. Recently, Bihar’s only road connecting Patna and Purnia was granted the status of a National Expressway, making it the state’s first expressway. But what exactly is a National Expressway, and how is it different from other highways? Let’s explore.
A National Expressway is a road built to very high standards, designed for long-distance, high-speed travel. These roads are specially constructed to handle speeds of 120 kilometres per hour or more. Most expressways in India allow vehicles to travel at speeds of 130 to 140 kilometres per hour, making them some of the fastest roads in the country.
To receive the National Expressway status, a road must meet several criteria. It should have at least six lanes, with the possibility to expand to eight lanes in the future. All entrances are fully interchanged or access-controlled, meaning there are no side roads or direct connections from villages or towns. National Expressways also have no crossings for vehicles or pedestrians. Only flyovers, underpasses, and overpasses are used to manage intersections.
These roads do not have slow vehicle lanes for tractors, bicycles, or motorbikes. They are meant to carry heavy, fast-moving traffic efficiently. A National Expressway typically connects two or more states and is designed to handle high traffic volumes safely. Only after a road meets all these conditions does the Ministry of Highways and the National Highway Authority of India grant it the designation of National Expressway.
The newly designated 282-kilometre Patna-Purnia Expressway in Bihar is officially National Expressway-9 (NE-9). It is a greenfield project, meaning it was built entirely from scratch to meet modern expressway standards.
Some of India’s major existing National Expressways include:
Delhi-Mumbai Expressway – 1,386 kilometres, connecting India’s capital with the financial hub.
Delhi-Dehradun Expressway – 210 kilometres, linking Delhi to the capital of Uttarakhand.
Samruddhi Expressway – 701 kilometres, connecting Nagpur to Mumbai.
Several other expressways are under construction to expand India’s expressway network:
Delhi-Katna Expressway – 650 kilometres.
Ganga Expressway – 594 kilometres, from Meerut to Prayagraj.
Bengaluru-Chennai Expressway – 262 kilometres.
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These expressways aim to reduce travel time, boost trade, and improve connectivity across states. By maintaining high construction standards and strict traffic regulations, National Expressways provide safer, faster, and more efficient travel compared to regular highways.
India’s focus on building expressways reflects the government’s vision to improve infrastructure, connect key cities, and promote economic growth. With NE-9 in Bihar joining the list, more states are expected to benefit from modern, high-speed expressways in the coming years.
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