Length of State Highways in India from 2005 to 2019, by State

Over the course of 15 years, India’s state highway network grew significantly, from 144,396 km in 2005 to 179,535 km in 2019, which is roughly a 24% increase. Maharashtra (30,000 km – 40,000 km) has continuously ranked at the top among the states with the largest state highway network system. Karnataka and Gujarat maintained between 17,000 and 20,000 kilometres of state highways throughout this time, making them stand out among other states with substantial highway networks. Several states showed impressive growth in their highway networks. Rajasthan significantly expanded its network from 9,777 km in 2005 to 15,061 km in 2019, a roughly 54% increase. Uttarakhand also showed remarkable growth, increasing its network from just 437 km in 2005 to 4,517 km in 2019, representing one of the most dramatic percentage increases among all states. The formation of Telangana as a new state is reflected in the data starting from 2014, with an initial network of 3,385 km that later stabilized to around 2,149 km by 2019. Some smaller states and union territories maintained relatively stable state highway networks throughout the period. Goa, for instance, kept its network almost unchanged at around 279 km, while Dadra & Nagar Haveli showed minimal variation, hovering around 30-42 km. The Andaman & Nicobar Islands saw a notable increase from 146 km to 257 km, reflecting improved connectivity in these remote territories. Interestingly, some states showed declining trends. Himachal Pradesh experienced a significant reduction from 2,164 km in 2005 to 827 km by 2017. Similarly, Haryana’s network decreased from 2,537 km to 1,602 km over the period. The overall trend reveals interesting patterns in regional development. While northern states like Uttar Pradesh maintained substantial networks but showed some decline (from 8,888 km to 7,427 km), southern states generally maintained or expanded their networks. Tamil Nadu, for example, increased its network from 7,207 km to 11,169 km, demonstrating significant investment in road infrastructure.