NECESSITY OF
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HIGHWAY PLANNING
Planning is an essential first step in any
development project, especially in engineering
works where it forms the foundation for both
new and expansion programs. For highways,
this becomes even more critical in developing
countries like India, where limited funds and
high demand require the efficient use of
resources through systematic planning.
The Objectives of Highway
Planning
Plan an efficient and safe road network at minimum cost
Decide road system & lengths of categories of roads
within available resources
Fix priorities for road development (phasing)
Plan for future requirements and anticipated
developments
Work out financing systems
Classification of Roads
BY USABILITY (SEASONAL CONDITION)
All-weather roads → Usable throughout the year, except
short interruptions at major river crossings. Essential for
continuous traffic.
Fair-weather roads → Not usable during heavy rains or
floods (common in rural areas where streams overflow).
BY CARRIAGEWAY / PAVEMENT TYPE
Paved roads → Have a strong surface like Water Bound
Macadam (WBM), concrete, or asphalt. More durable and
suitable for heavy traffic.
Unpaved roads → Made of soil or gravel, weak surface,
easily damaged by rain and heavy vehicles.
BY PAVEMENT SURFACING
Surfaced roads → Covered with bitumen (blacktop) or
cement concrete, providing a smooth driving surface.
Unsurfaced roads → No proper surface layer; rough and
dusty, hard to maintain.
BY TRAFFIC OR TONNAGE (RELATIVE CLASSIFICATION)
Heavy, Medium, Light traffic roads → Classified by number
of vehicles per day (e.g., highways carry heavy traffic,
village roads carry light).
Class I, II, A, B roads → Classified by how much
load/tonnage they carry daily.
BY LOCATION & FUNCTION (NAGPUR ROAD PLAN)
National Highways (NH): Main highways across India
connecting states, capitals, ports, industries, and defense
routes.
State Highways (SH): Major roads within a state connecting
with NH and important state cities/district HQs.
Major District Roads (MDR): Important district-level roads
linking markets, production areas, and highways.
Other District Roads (ODR): Smaller district roads serving
rural areas, connecting them to towns and higher roads.
Village Roads (VR): Basic farm/village roads connecting
villages to nearby roads or markets.
NHs as the backbone of communication → They form the
Key Notes from main framework for road transport across the country.
Nagpur Road
NH numbering system → Each NH has a unique number
(e.g., NH-1 Delhi–Ambala–Amritsar).
Plan SHs may carry heavy traffic → Some SHs have more traffic
than NHs, but classification remains based on administrative
purpose, not volume.
Village roads systematic design → Should not be left as
mere farm tracks; instead, they should be planned and
maintained properly.
Economic principle of 20 years → Roads should be
designed so that both construction and maintenance costs
remain minimum over 20 years.
NH responsibility → Central Government builds and
maintains National Highways.
Modified Classification of Road
System by Third Road Development
Plan,1981-2001
Primary System
Expressways: High-speed, divided carriageways, controlled access,
grade separations; for fast-moving vehicles only.
National Highways (NH)
Secondary System
State Highways (SH)
Major District Roads (MDR)
Tertiary System (Rural Roads)
Other District Roads (ODR)
Village Roads (VR)
