Highways

Main article: Indian highways

India has a network of National Highways connecting all the major cities and state capitals. As of 2005, India has a total of 65,569 km of National Highways, of which 4,885 km are classified as expressways. Most highways are 2 laned, while in some better developed areas they may broaden to 4 lanes. Close to big cities, highways can even be 8 laned.

All the highways are metalled. In most developed states the roads are smooth, however in less developed states and in sparsely populated areas, highways are riddled with potholes. Very few of India's highways are constructed of concrete, the most notable being the Mumbai-Pune Expressway.

Highways form the economic backbone of the country. Highways have facilitated development along the route and many towns have sprung up along major highways.

In recent years construction has commenced on a nationwide system of multi-lane highways, including the Golden Quadrilateral expressways which link the largest cities in India.

A bus service Srinagar Jammu and Kashmir) - Muzaffarabad (Pakistan controlled Kashmir, part of what India calls 'Pakistan-occupied Kashmir'), with one bus service every two weeks, at the same time in both directions, opened on 7 April 2005.

Length: total - 3,319,644 km; paved - 1,517,077 km; unpaved - 1,802,567 km (1999 est.)