National Highways in India: Quick Answer
The longest national highway in India is NH-44, running 3,745 km from Srinagar in Jammu & Kashmir to Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu — the figure exams expect, and the one this note uses as its headline. The second-longest is NH-27 (3,507 km, Porbandar to Silchar), forming the East–West Corridor, and the third is NH-48 (2,807 km, Delhi to Chennai). India has 599 national highways with a combined length of 146,145 km (2024, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways) — up from about 91,000 km in 2014. Maharashtra has the longest national highway network of any state (18,459 km). National highways are only about 2% of India's road network but carry about 40% of its road traffic. This note lists the top 10 longest national highways with their numbers, routes and lengths, as of 7 November 2026.
🔥 Key Exam Takeaway: Longest NH = NH-44 (3,745 km, Srinagar–Kanyakumari, old NH 7). Second = NH-27 (3,507 km, Porbandar–Silchar, East–West Corridor). Third = NH-48 (2,807 km, Delhi–Chennai, old NH 8). Total network = 146,145 km, 599 highways (2024). NHAI = established 1988. Numbering rule: even numbers run north–south, odd numbers run east–west (rationalised 2010). Longest state NH network = Maharashtra (18,459 km).
The NH-44 Length Conflict — Read This Before the Exam
NH-44 is the one highway where two lengths circulate, and candidates lose marks on it. The two figures genuinely conflict in the sources: 3,745 km is the long-standing figure — it appears in older Wikipedia snapshots, in Testbook's question solutions and in most exam guides — while 4,112 km is the figure Wikipedia's current article lists and several 2025–26 sources cite with MoRTH attribution. Some pages print both numbers on the same page (4,112 km in the text, 3,745 km in the table). Neither figure is settled as the single official length. This note uses 3,745 km as its headline figure because it is the convergent exam answer, and records 4,112 km here as the variant. If a question gives 4,112 km as an option, it is testing whether you know the newer figure exists — but in standard SSC, banking and railway papers, 3,745 km is the expected answer.
Latest: Network Growth
| Item | Figure | Source / Date |
|---|---|---|
| Total NH length | 146,145 km | MoRTH, 2024 (some 2026 reports cite ~146,560 km) |
| Number of national highways | 599 | MoRTH |
| Length in 2014 | ~91,000 km | MoRTH — growth of ~55,000 km in a decade |
| Longest state network | Maharashtra, 18,459 km | MoRTH state-wise data, 2024 |
| NHAI | Established 1988 by an Act of Parliament | National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988 |
| Longest expressway (under construction) | Delhi–Mumbai Expressway, 1,386 km | NHAI |
| Longest operational expressway | Samruddhi Mahamarg, 701 km (Maharashtra) | Fully operational 5 June 2025 |
National Highways in India: Complete List (Top 10 Longest)
One table, the 10 longest national highways, sorted by length. Lengths are the convergent exam figures; variants are footnoted underneath. "Old NH" is the pre-2010 number, which exams still ask about.
| Rank | Highway | Route (Start – End) | Length (km) | Old NH | Corridor / Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | NH-44 | Srinagar (J&K) – Kanyakumari (TN) | 3,745 | NH 7 | North–South Corridor; longest NH in India |
| 2 | NH-27 | Porbandar (GJ) – Silchar (AS) | 3,507 | — | East–West Corridor; second-longest NH |
| 3 | NH-48 | Delhi – Chennai (TN) | 2,807 | NH 8 | Golden Quadrilateral; via Jaipur, Mumbai, Bengaluru |
| 4 | NH-52 | Sangrur (PB) – Ankola (KA) | 2,317 | — | North-west to south-west |
| 5 | NH-30 | Sitarganj (UK) – Ibrahimpatnam (AP) | 2,040 | NH 221 | Central India connector |
| 6 | NH-6 | Jorabat (ML) – Selling (MZ) | 1,873 | — | North-East connector |
| 7 | NH-53 | Hazira (GJ) – Paradip (OD) | 1,781 | — | Gujarat coast to Odisha port |
| 8 | NH-16 | Kolkata (WB) – Chennai (TN) | 1,711 | NH 5 | Golden Quadrilateral; east coast |
| 9 | NH-66 | Panvel (MH) – Kanyakumari (TN) | 1,622 | NH 17 | West coast highway |
| 10 | NH-19 | Delhi – Kolkata (WB) | 1,435 | NH 2 | Golden Quadrilateral; via Agra, Varanasi |
Length variants — where sources disagree
- NH-44: 3,745 km (exam standard) vs 4,112 km (current Wikipedia figure, also cited with MoRTH attribution). Two live figures; use 3,745 km in exams.
- NH-30: 2,040 km (convergent) vs 1,984 km (some lists). Use 2,040 km.
- NH-53: 1,781 km (convergent) vs 1,849 km (some lists). Use 1,781 km.
- NH-66: 1,622 km (convergent) vs 1,640 km (some lists). Use 1,622 km.
- NH-19: 1,435 km (convergent) vs 1,323 km (some lists, measuring Agra–Kolkata only). Use 1,435 km for Delhi–Kolkata.
- NH-52: one list gives 2,724 km, but the convergent figure is 2,317 km (Sangrur–Ankola). The 2,724 km figure appears to mix in spur sections.
How highway numbers work — the 2010 system
The numbering was rationalised in April 2010. Even-numbered highways generally run north–south, with numbers increasing from east to west. Odd-numbered highways generally run east–west, with numbers increasing from north to south. So NH-44 (even) runs north–south and NH-27 (odd) runs east–west — exactly as the rule predicts. NH-1 follows the rule: since the 2010 renumbering it runs Uri–Baramulla–Srinagar–Kargil–Leh (J&K and Ladakh, about 534 km), east–west at the top of the map. The old Delhi–Amritsar–Attari NH 1 no longer carries that number: Delhi–Jalandhar is now part of NH-44, and Jalandhar–Amritsar–Attari is part of NH-3. The old numbers still appear in questions because NH-44 was formed by merging seven old highways — NH 1A, NH 1, NH 2, NH 3, NH 75, NH 26 and NH 7 — and the old NH 7 is the most-asked fact of all: "Old NH 7 is now NH-44."
Old number → new number (most-asked mappings)
| Old NH | New NH | Route |
|---|---|---|
| NH 7 | NH-44 | Srinagar – Kanyakumari (longest) |
| NH 8 | NH-48 | Delhi – Chennai |
| NH 5 | NH-16 | Kolkata – Chennai |
| NH 17 | NH-66 | Panvel – Kanyakumari |
| NH 2 | NH-19 | Delhi – Kolkata |
| NH 221 | NH-30 | Sitarganj – Ibrahimpatnam |
National Highways in India: Records and Unique Facts
| Record | Answer |
|---|---|
| Longest national highway | NH-44 (3,745 km, Srinagar–Kanyakumari) |
| Second-longest national highway | NH-27 (3,507 km, Porbandar–Silchar) |
| Longest state NH network | Maharashtra (18,459 km, 2024) |
| Total NH network | 146,145 km, 599 highways (2024) |
| Shortest national highway (commonly cited) | NH-548 (about 5 km, near Mumbai) — tied with NH-118 (Jharkhand, about 5 km) |
| Golden Quadrilateral length | 5,846 km (Delhi–Mumbai–Chennai–Kolkata) |
| North–South Corridor | NH-44 (Srinagar–Kanyakumari) |
| East–West Corridor | NH-27 (Porbandar–Silchar) |
| NHAI established | 1988 |
| Longest expressway (under construction) | Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (1,386 km) |
| Longest operational expressway | Samruddhi Mahamarg (701 km, Mumbai–Nagpur) |
One-line facts that are asked in exams
- NH-44 passes through 12 states and union territories: Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. The longest stretch of NH-44 in any one state is in Tamil Nadu (627 km), followed by Telangana and Madhya Pradesh (504 km each).
- NH-1 (Uri–Srinagar–Kargil–Leh, about 534 km) runs east–west across J&K and Ladakh. The old Delhi–Attari NH 1 is now split between NH-44 and NH-3 — exams still ask "old NH 1 is now part of NH-44".
- The Golden Quadrilateral connects Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata over 5,846 km; it was the flagship project of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP).
- NH-48 is the Delhi–Chennai highway via Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Bengaluru — it is the busiest freight corridor in the country.
- NH-27 is the East–West Corridor: Porbandar (Gujarat) to Silchar (Assam), passing through Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal and Assam.
- NH-16 runs along the east coast from Kolkata to Chennai and is part of the Golden Quadrilateral.
- NH-66 runs along the west coast from Panvel (Maharashtra) to Kanyakumari, through Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.
- NHAI was set up by the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988, and maintains the national highway network along with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and NHIDCL in the North-East.
- Bharatmala Pariyojana is the umbrella programme for highway development, targeting about 34,800 km of new highways including economic corridors and border roads.
- The Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (1,386 km) will be India's longest expressway when complete; sections are already open to traffic.
- Purvanchal Expressway (341 km, UP) was the longest operational expressway in India until 5 June 2025, when the Samruddhi Mahamarg (701 km) opened end-to-end.
Common Mistakes in National Highway Questions
- NH-44 is 3,745 km in exams, not 4,112 km — but the sources conflict: 3,745 km is the long-standing exam figure (Testbook, older references, most guides), while 4,112 km is what Wikipedia's current article lists and several 2025–26 sources cite with MoRTH attribution. Neither is settled as the single official length. Standard exam papers expect 3,745 km.
- NH-27, not NH-48, is the second-longest: NH-27 (3,507 km) beats NH-48 (2,807 km). Many candidates guess NH-48 because it is the most famous.
- Longest highway vs longest state network: NH-44 is the longest single highway; Maharashtra has the longest total state network (18,459 km). Two different questions.
- Old NH 7 = new NH-44: the single most-asked mapping. Old NH 8 = NH-48; old NH 5 = NH-16; old NH 17 = NH-66; old NH 2 = NH-19.
- NH-1 is not Delhi–Attari any more: the new NH-1 is Uri–Srinagar–Kargil–Leh (about 534 km). The old Delhi–Attari NH 1 became part of NH-44 and NH-3. The "1" does not mean first or longest.
- Even = north–south, odd = east–west: NH-44 (even) runs north–south; NH-27 (odd) runs east–west. The rule eliminates wrong options fast.
- NH-19's two lengths: 1,435 km is Delhi–Kolkata; 1,323 km is Agra–Kolkata (the same highway measured from Agra). Use 1,435 km.
- NH-6 is in the North-East now: the new NH-6 runs Jorabat (Meghalaya) to Selling (Mizoram), 1,873 km. The old NH-6 (Hazira–Kolkata, 1,949 km) no longer exists under that number — its route is now mostly NH-53.
- Golden Quadrilateral is 5,846 km, not a single highway: it is four legs (NH-48 twice — Delhi–Mumbai and Mumbai–Chennai — plus NH-16 and NH-19) forming a loop. Do not call it "the longest highway".
- Expressway vs national highway: the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (1,386 km) is an expressway, not a national highway — it does not count in the NH-44 ranking.
How to Remember National Highways (Study Method)
- Learn the top-3 ladder: 3,745 (NH-44) → 3,507 (NH-27) → 2,807 (NH-48). "3745-3507-2807".
- Learn the two corridors: North–South = NH-44 (Srinagar–Kanyakumari); East–West = NH-27 (Porbandar–Silchar).
- Learn the old→new mappings: 7→44, 8→48, 5→16, 17→66, 2→19, 221→30.
- Learn the numbering rule: even = north–south, odd = east–west.
- Learn the network numbers: 599 highways, 146,145 km, 2% of roads, 40% of traffic, Maharashtra 18,459 km.
National Highways in India MCQs with Answers
Q1. Which is the longest national highway in India? (a) NH-27 (b) NH-48 (c) NH-44 (d) NH-19 Answer: (c) NH-44 (3,745 km, Srinagar–Kanyakumari).
Q2. NH-44 runs from Srinagar to: (a) Chennai (b) Kanyakumari (c) Kochi (d) Madurai Answer: (b) Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu.
Q3. Which highway forms the East–West Corridor of India? (a) NH-44 (b) NH-48 (c) NH-27 (d) NH-16 Answer: (c) NH-27 (Porbandar–Silchar, 3,507 km).
Q4. What is the total length of India's national highway network (2024)? (a) 91,000 km (b) 132,500 km (c) 146,145 km (d) 200,000 km Answer: (c) 146,145 km (599 highways).
Q5. Old National Highway 7 is now known as: (a) NH-27 (b) NH-44 (c) NH-48 (d) NH-19 Answer: (b) NH-44.
Q6. Which state has the longest national highway network in India? (a) Uttar Pradesh (b) Rajasthan (c) Maharashtra (d) Madhya Pradesh Answer: (c) Maharashtra (18,459 km).
Q7. NH-48 connects Delhi to: (a) Mumbai (b) Kolkata (c) Chennai (d) Bengaluru Answer: (c) Chennai (via Jaipur, Mumbai and Bengaluru).
Q8. In the 2010 numbering system, even-numbered national highways generally run: (a) East–west (b) North–south (c) Diagonally (d) In circles Answer: (b) North–south.
Q9. Which body is responsible for the development and maintenance of national highways? (a) BRO (b) NHAI (c) CPWD (d) Indian Railways Answer: (b) NHAI (National Highways Authority of India, established 1988).
Q10. What is the length of NH-48? (a) 2,317 km (b) 2,807 km (c) 3,507 km (d) 1,711 km Answer: (b) 2,807 km (Delhi–Chennai).
National Highways in India FAQs
Which is the longest national highway in India?
NH-44, 3,745 km from Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) to Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu).
How many national highways are there in India?
599 national highways with a total length of 146,145 km (2024, MoRTH).
What is the second-longest national highway in India?
NH-27, 3,507 km from Porbandar (Gujarat) to Silchar (Assam) — the East–West Corridor.
Why do some sources say NH-44 is 4,112 km long?
The two figures genuinely conflict in the sources. 3,745 km is the long-standing figure (older references, Testbook, most exam guides); 4,112 km is the figure Wikipedia's current article lists and several 2025–26 sources cite with MoRTH attribution. This note uses 3,745 km because exams expect it, and flags 4,112 km as the variant.
Which state has the longest national highway network?
Maharashtra, with 18,459 km (2024).
What is the Golden Quadrilateral?
A 5,846 km highway network connecting Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata — the flagship project of the National Highways Development Project.
When was NHAI established?
In 1988, by an Act of Parliament (National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988).
Related topics: revise States and Capitals of India 2026, Major Ports in India List, National Waterways in India List, International Airports in India List and Static GK for SSC CGL next.
Practice Next
- Test yourself: SSC CGL General Awareness Sectional Mock Test 01
- More GA practice: RRB NTPC GK Mock Test 03
- Geography notes: List of Governors and Chief Ministers of Indian States 2026 and Indian Railway Zones and Headquarters
- More lists: Famous Temples in India List
- More free notes: All Study Notes
Sources: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways via FactoData, National Highway Length in Indian States 2026; Vajiram and Ravi, Longest Highway in India; Testbook, longest national highway solutions; Chegg India, Longest National Highway in India; GoDigit, Top 10 Longest National Highways; Adda247, Longest Highway in India; SarkariPariksha, Top 10 Longest National Highways. Length conflicts recorded in the notes above are from these sources. As of 7 November 2026.