Template:Infobox road The Golden Quadrilateral (Template:Langx; abbreviated GQ) is a network of national highways connecting major cities of India. It roughly forms a quadrilateral with major cities – Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south) forming the termini. Stretching Template:Cvt, it is one of the longest roads in the world.[1]
The project was part of the first phase of the National Highways Development Project executed by the Government of India. The roads were constructed and are maintained by the National Highway Authority of India under the purview of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways. The road system consists of access controlled four or six-lane highways, built at a cost of Template:INRConvert. The project was launched in 1999, and completed in 2012.
Background and planning
In 1998, the Government of India launched the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). The project envisaged the development of about Template:Cvt of four and six lane highways at an estimated cost of Template:INRconvert.[2][3][4] The Golden Quadrilateral project was part of the first phase of NHDP, and involved the construction of Template:Cvt of multi-lane highways connecting the major cities.[5][6] It was intended to establish better and faster transport networks between major cities, thereby reducing accidents and costs,[3] and drive economical growth by providing better access to markets.[6][7][8]
Construction
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was tasked with the implementation of the project.[8] The foundation stone for the project was laid on 6 January 1999 by then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.[9] As per the original plan, majority of the project was intended to be completed by December 2004.[5] However, as of July 2005, four laning of only Template:Cvt was complete, and the project timeline was revised to be completed by December 2006.[10]
The project faced further delays due to land acquisition issues, disputes with contractors, and renegotiation of contracts.[8][10][11] A NHAI engineer Satyendra Dubey wrote letter to the prime minister highlighting that the large contractors were being given inside information by NHAI officials, and the contractors were subcontracting the work to smaller companies which lacked technical expertise.[12] While Dubey was transferred and was later murdered for voicing out his concerns, NHAI implemented reforms in contract procedures due to the allegations.[13][14]
In September 2009, the government announced plans to convert the existing four-lane highways into six-lane highways in the future.[15] As per an update given to the Parliament of India, about 99.7% of the project was complete by 2009.[16] In January 2012, the government announced that the entire project has been completed.[17][18] The final cost of the project was estimated at Template:INRconvert.[8]
Network
The Golden Quadrilateral consists Template:Cvt of multi-lane highways roughly forming a quadrilateral connecting four major cities – Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south).[5][6][17]
| Segment | Length[19] | National Highway[20][21] | States/UTs[20] |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delhi–Mumbai | Template:Cvt | NH-48 | |
| Mumbai–Chennai | Template:Cvt | NH-48 | |
| Kolkata–Chennai | Template:Cvt | NH-16 | |
| Delhi–Kolkata | Template:Cvt | NH-19 and NH-44 | |
| Template:Cvt |
Major towns
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See also
References
- ↑ World's 10 longest highways. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- ↑ Template:Cite report
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Template:Cite press release
- ↑ Mile by Mile, India Paves a Smoother Future(4 December 2005). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Template:Cite report
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 Fast Lane to the Future(October 2008). Retrieved 1 June 2009.
- ↑ Crossing the chasm(21 September 2009).
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 Benefits of Golden Quadrilateral project are already visible(12 May 2013). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ↑ Template:Cite press release
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Golden Quadrilateral still has miles to go. The Financial Express(26 August 2005). Retrieved 26 August 2005.
- ↑ Contractors take the sheen off Golden Quadrilateral. The Financial Express(3 August 2011).
- ↑ Bihar govt wakes up to IITian's murder(5 December 2003). Retrieved 1 June 2004.
- ↑ NHAI report to CBI proves Dubey right, contract rules being rewritten. The Indian Express(26 September 2005). Retrieved 1 June 2007.
- ↑ Satyendranath Dubey killers get life imprisonment. Oneindia(27 March 2010).
- ↑ Ambassador: Indian Economy Will Grow. Forbes(21 September 2009). Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- ↑ National Highways Development Project(26 April 2012). Retrieved 1 June 2024.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Govt declares Golden Quadrilateral complete. The Indian Express(7 January 2012). Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- ↑ National Highways Development Project Map. Retrieved 5 December 2005.
- ↑ Current status of Golden Quadrilateral. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Template:Cite report
- ↑ List of national highways in India. Retrieved 1 June 2024.