Question

Who builds and maintains the National Highways?
A. The state government
B. Joint Sector
C. The Central government
D. Private Sector
E. None of these

Answer 1

Hint: The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is an autonomous body liable for building, improving, and keeping up the majority of the National Highways plan.

Complete answer: India has one of the second largest road networks in the world with an absolute length of around 56 lakh kilometres. As of April 2019, India comprises 142,126 kilometres of National Highways. In 1995, under the Ministry of Surface Transport, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was operationalised as a self-sufficient body. It is endowed with the duty of advancement, repair and the operation of National Highways. This is moreover the summit body to improve the nature of the streets assigned as National Highways.

Now let us examine the options
Option A - National Highways are the highways that connect one state with the other and also connect important ports, railway junctions and so on. It is built and maintained by the Union. The state government built and maintains State Highways (SH).
Option B - Joint Sector comprises business undertakings which are managed by both the Government and the public. The public has nothing to do with the construction of the national highways but it is their duty to maintain it.
Option C - The Central government constructs and maintains the National Highways. These highways are meant for inter-state transport and connectivity.
Option D - Private sectors are administered by individuals or by private companies and are not controlled by the State. Hence, it has nothing to with the construction and maintenance of National Highways.
Option E - This option is incorrect because the National Highways are constructed and maintained by the Central Government. It also improves the condition of the highways designated as National Highways.

Thus, the correct answer is option C.

Note: National Highways accounts 2.7 percent of India's total road network, but as of 2013 bore about 40 percent of street traffic. NH44 which runs between Kanyakumari in Tamil Nadu and Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir is the longest National Highway in India while the shortest National Highway is NH966B which runs from Ernakulam to Kochi in Kerala.