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{{Short description|National highway network in India connecting four megacities}} | |||
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{{EngvarB|date=March 2017}} | |||
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{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2017}} | |||
The '''Golden Quadrilateral''' (GQ) is the largest ] project in ] launched by former prime minister ].It is the first phase of the ] (NHDP), and consists of building 5,846 kilometres of four/six lane express highways connecting ], ], ] and ] (thus forming a quadrilateral of sorts), at a cost of Rs. 60,000 ]s (US$ 12.317 billion) (at 1999 prices) (Rs 580 billion). On-ramps, off-ramps, and exits are largely absent except in certain areas, although safety features such as guardrails, shoulders, and high-visibility signs are used. The National Highways Authority of India has produced statistics to indicate that, as of September 2007, | |||
{{Infobox road | |||
96% of the entire work has been completed. However, these statistics appear to be misleading: in practice, roadworks are still a major feature of certain sections of the Golden Quadrilateral. For example, the statistics indicate that the Delhi to Mumbai section is 100% complete, whereas in reality there are a number of sections which are still single carriageway and in very poor repair (for example the stretch to Ahmadabad in Gujarat). The whole project is a few years behind schedule, due mainly to issues with the various states about giving up land for the national highway and the termination of several contracts which take 6 months to be issued. In January, 2008 it was announced that the project will now be expanded to cover 6,500 kilometers, some portions of which will be developed into eight lanes. | |||
| country = IND | |||
| name = The Golden Quadrilateral | |||
| established = {{start date and age| July 2013}} | |||
| maint = ] | |||
| map = Golden Quadrilateral.svg | |||
| map_notes = Highway map of India with the Golden Quadrilateral highlighted in solid blue colour | |||
| length_km = 5846 | |||
| section1 = ] – ] | |||
| length_km1 = 1453 | |||
| section2 = ] – ] | |||
| length_km2 = 1419 | |||
| section3 = ] – ] | |||
| length_km3 = 1290 | |||
| section4 = ] – ] | |||
| length_km4 = 1684 | |||
| junction1 = {{Jct|country=IND|NH|44}} & {{Jct|country=IND|NH|19}} | |||
| junction2 = {{Jct|country=IND|NH|48}} | |||
| junction3 = {{Jct|country=IND|NH|48}} | |||
| junction4 = {{Jct|country=IND|NH|16}} | |||
}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
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] | |||
The '''Golden Quadrilateral''' ({{langx|hi|स्वर्णिम चतुर्भुज|Svarnim Chaturbhuj}}; abbreviated '''GQ''') is a national highway network connecting several major industrial, agricultural and cultural centres of India. It forms a ] with all the four major metro cities of India forming the vertices, viz., ] (north), ] (east), ] (west) and ] (south). Other major cities connected by this network include ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], ], and ]. The main objective of these super highways is to reduce the travel time between the major cities of India, running roughly along the perimeter of the country. The North–South corridor linking ] (]) and ] (]), and East–West corridor linking ] (]) and ] (]) are additional projects. These highway projects are implemented by the National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI). At {{convert|5846|km}}, it is the largest ] project in India and the fifth longest in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-images-worlds-10-longest-highways/20140122.htm#5|title=World's 10 longest highways|access-date=22 January 2014|archive-date=23 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140123014156/http://www.rediff.com/business/slide-show/slide-show-1-images-worlds-10-longest-highways/20140122.htm#5|url-status=live}}</ref> It is the first phase of the ] (NHDP), and consists of two, four, and six-lane express highways, built at a cost of {{INRConvert|600|b}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.nhai.org/roadnetwork.htm |title=Welcome to NHAI |access-date=2013-07-23 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150414094555/http://www.nhai.org/roadnetwork.htm |archive-date=14 April 2015 |df=dmy }} Road network-Source-The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)</ref> The project was planned in 1999, launched in 2001, and was completed on 7 January 2012.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120323014714/http://www.roadtraffic-technology.com/projects/golden-quadrilateral-highway-network/ |date=23 March 2012 }}. Road Traffic Technology (2011-06-15). Retrieved on 2013-12-06.</ref> | |||
The |
The Golden Quadrilateral project is managed by the ] (NHAI) under the ]. The vast majority of the system is not ], although safety features such as guardrails, shoulders, and high-visibility signs are in use. The ], the first ] ] to be built in India, is a part of the GQ Project but not funded by NHAI, and is separate from the old Mumbai–Pune section of ]. ] (IL&FS) has been one of the major contributors to the infrastructural development activity in the GQ project.{{citation needed lead|date=February 2021}} | ||
== History and costs == | |||
==Economic benefits== | |||
This highway will interconnect many major cities and ports. It will give an impetus to ] transport throughout India. It will help in the industrial growth of all small ]s through which it passes. It will provide vast opportunities for transport of agricultural produce from the hinterland to major cities and ] for ]. In addition, it will provide job opportunities in its construction as well as demand for cement, steel and other construction materials | |||
The Golden Quadrilateral Project (GQ Project) was intended to establish faster transport networks between major cities and ports, provide smaller towns better access to markets, reduce agricultural spoilage in transport, drive economical growth, and promote truck transport.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} | |||
==Controversies and charges of corruption== | |||
Prime Minister ] laid the foundation stone for the project on 6 January 1999.<ref>{{cite web|title=Building India's National Pride: The Golden Quadrilateral|url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2003/fapr2003/f020420031.html|access-date=19 August 2012|archive-date=17 July 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130717091143/http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2003/fapr2003/f020420031.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It was planned to be completed by 2006, but there were delays due to land acquisition constraints and disputes with contractors which had to be renegotiated.<ref name="financialexpress">{{cite web|url=http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=100459|title=Golden Quadrilateral still has miles to go|publisher=Financial Express|access-date=26 August 2005|archive-date=28 November 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051128212502/http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=100459|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="forbes_india">{{cite web|url=http://business.in.com/article/briefing/crossing-the-chasm/4202/1|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925032101/http://business.in.com/article/briefing/crossing-the-chasm/4202/1|url-status=dead|archive-date=2009-09-25|author=R. N. Bhaskar|work=Forbes India|title=Crossing the chasm}}</ref> In January 2012, India announced the four-lane GQ highway network as complete.<ref>{{cite web|title=Govt declares Golden Quadrilateral complete|publisher=The Indian Express|date=7 January 2012|url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-declares-Golden-Quadrilateral-complete/896873/|access-date=9 January 2012|archive-date=8 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108133041/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-declares-Golden-Quadrilateral-complete/896873|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="nhai_progress">{{cite web|url=http://www.nhai.org/gqmain_english.htm|title=National Highways Development Project Map|publisher=National Highways Institute of India|access-date=5 December 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304034111/http://www.nhai.org/gqmain_english.htm|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> | |||
The project involves an enormous outlay of funds and has been the focus of several charges of corruption. In August 2003, project director ], in a letter to the Prime Minister, outlined a list of malafide actions in a segment of this highway in ]. Dubey claimed that the contractors for this stretch were not executing the project themselves, but had sub-contracted the work to small builders who lacked technical expertise. This would lead to substandard work, he claimed. Within months of this whistleblowing action, Dubey was brutally assassinated in ], Bihar. It is not clear that any action was taken by NHAI on the more germane issues raised by Dubey. | |||
India's government had initially estimated that the Golden Quadrilateral project would cost {{INRConvert|600|b}} at 1999 prices. However, the highway was built under-budget. As of August 2011, the cost incurred by the Indian government was about half of the initial estimate, at {{INRConvert|308.58|b}}. The eight contracts in progress, as of August 2011, were worth {{INRConvert|16.34|b}}.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contractors take the sheen off Golden Quadrilateral |publisher=The Financial Express |date=3 August 2011 |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/news/contractors-take-the-sheen-off-golden-quadrilateral/826471/0 |url-status=dead |df=dmy |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731160327/http://www.financialexpress.com/news/contractors-take-the-sheen-off-golden-quadrilateral/826471/0 |archive-date=31 July 2012 }}</ref>{{update inline|date=September 2018}} | |||
In February 2006, a 600 meter stretch of the highway connecting ] to ] subsided into the ground, opening up ten meter gorges near ], ] . This stretch had been completed a year back by a Malaysian multinational firm, selected after global tendering. | |||
In September 2009, it was announced that the existing four-laned highways would be converted into six-lane highways.<ref name="nh_expansion">{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/2009/09/21/india-ambassador-shankar-business-emerging-markets-economy.html|title=Ambassador: Indian Economy Will Grow|author=Megha Bahree|work=Forbes|date=21 September 2009|access-date=29 August 2017|archive-date=11 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180911114830/https://www.forbes.com/2009/09/21/india-ambassador-shankar-business-emerging-markets-economy.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Sections of ], NH 4, NH 5 and ] were prioritized for widening to six lanes under DBFO (Design, Build, Finance, Operate) pattern and more sections would be six-laned in the future. On NH 8, six-lane work was completed from ] to ].{{when|date=September 2018}}{{citation needed|date=September 2018}} | |||
==Current status== | |||
{| class = "wikitable" | {| class = "wikitable" | ||
|- | |- | ||
!{{abbr|No.|number}} || Segment || Length || Completed || Source<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-declares-Golden-Quadrilateral-complete/896873/ |title=Govt. of India declares "Golden Quadrilateral" complete - Jan 7th 2012 |access-date=9 January 2012 |archive-date=8 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108133041/http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Govt-declares-Golden-Quadrilateral-complete/896873 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nhai.org/goldenquadrilateral.asp |title=NHAI - Current status |access-date=2 December 2009 |archive-date=29 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129032529/http://www.nhai.org/goldenquadrilateral.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref> | |||
!No.||Route||National Highway No.||Length Completed (km)||Total Length (km)||Percent Completed (%)||As of (date) | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 1. || Delhi–Kolkata || {{convert|1453|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 31 August 2011 || {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801173715/http://www.nhai.org/NH2_Delhi_Kolkata_english.htm |date=1 August 2009 }} | |||
|1. || Delhi-Kolkata || ] || 1431 || 1453 || 98.48 || 30 Sep 2008 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 2. || Chennai–Mumbai || {{convert|1290|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 31 August 2011 || {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090804024702/http://www.nhai.org/NH4_Mumbai_Chennai_english.htm |date=4 August 2009 }} | |||
|2. || Chennai-Mumbai || ] / 7 / 46 || 1264 || 1290 || 97.98 || 30 Sep 2008 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 3. || Kolkata–Chennai || {{convert|1684|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 31 May 2013 || {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723165747/http://www.nhai.org/NH5_Kolkata_chennai_english.htm |date=23 July 2009 }} | |||
|3. || Kolkata-Chennai || ] || 1584 || 1684 || 94.06 || 30 Sep 2008 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| 4. || Mumbai–Delhi || {{convert|1419|km|mi|abbr=on}} || 31 August 2011 || {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628073117/http://nhai.org/NH8_Delhi_Mumbai_english.htm |date=28 June 2009 }} | |||
|4. || Mumbai-Delhi || ] / 76 / 79 || 1419 || 1419 || 100 || Nov 2006 | |||
|- | |- | ||
| || '''Total''' || '''{{convert|5846|km|mi|abbr=on}}''' || 31 May 2013 || {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091129032529/http://www.nhai.org/goldenquadrilateral.asp |date=29 November 2009 }} | |||
|5. || TOTAL G.Q || - || 5669 || 5846 || 97.12 || 2 Jun 2008 | |||
|} | |} | ||
== |
== Route == | ||
The completed Golden Quadrilateral will pass through many major cities throughout the length and breadth of India. | |||
Only ] are used in the Golden Quadrilateral. The four legs use the following National Highways (new numbering system): | |||
* Delhi – Kolkata: ] from Delhi to Agra & ] from Agra to Kolkata | |||
* Delhi – Mumbai – Chennai: ] | |||
* Kolkata – Chennai: ] | |||
== Connected cities == | |||
{| class="wikitable" | |||
|- | |||
! Delhi–Kolkata | |||
! Kolkata–Chennai | |||
! Chennai–Mumbai | |||
! Mumbai–Delhi | |||
|- | |||
| valign=top | | |||
===Delhi-Kolkata=== | |||
''']''' | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
| valign=top | | |||
===Kolkata-Chennai=== | |||
'''], ]''' | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
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*] | |||
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*] | |||
*] | |||
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*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
* ] | |||
===Chennai-Mumbai=== | |||
* ] | |||
'''], ], ]''' | |||
*] | * ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
*] | |||
*] | * ] | ||
*] |
* ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
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*] |
* ] | ||
*] | * ] | ||
*] | |||
| valign=top | | |||
*] | |||
*] | |||
*] | * ] | ||
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*] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
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* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
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* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
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| valign=top | | |||
===Mumbai-Delhi=== | |||
'''], ], ]''' | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
|} | |||
== Future Plans == | |||
Sections of NH-2, NH-5 and NH-8 have now been prioritized for further widening to six lanes under DBFO (Design, Build, Finance, Operate) pattern and more sections would be six-laned in the near future. | |||
== Length in each state == | |||
The completed Golden Quadrilateral passes through 12 states and a union territory: | |||
* ] – {{convert|1014|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|756|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|725|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|623|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|487|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|485|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|440|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|406|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|342|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|204|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|192|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|152|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* ] – {{convert|25|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
* Total – {{convert|5846|km|mi|abbr=on}} | |||
== Corruption allegations == | |||
{{Main|Satyendra Dubey}} | |||
In August 2003, ]-based project director ], in a letter to the prime minister, outlined a list of ] (''mala fide'') actions in a segment of a highway in ]. Dubey's claims included that big contractors had inside information from NHAI officials,<ref name="rediff2003"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918082555/http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/dec/05bihar1.htm|date=18 September 2009}} Bihar govt wakes up to IITian's murder-Source-Rediff News</ref> that the contractors for this stretch were not executing the project themselves (as stipulated in the contract) but had been subcontracting the work to small builders who lacked technical expertise,<ref name="rediff2003" /> and that no follow-up was performed after awarding advances.<ref name="rediff2003" /> Dubey's name was leaked by the prime minister's office to the NHAI,<ref name="rediff2003" /> and he was transferred against his wishes to ], ], where he was murdered on 27 November.<ref name="rediff2003" /> | |||
The NHAI eventually admitted that Dubey's allegations were substantiated, and implemented "radical reforms" in the selection and contract procedures.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071019033409/http://www.indianexpress.com/res/web/pIe/full_story.php?content_id=78880|date=19 October 2007}} NHAI report to CBI proves Dubey right, contract rules being rewritten-Source-Indian Express</ref> After considerable ] scrutiny, Mantu Kumar and three accomplices were arrested and charged with murder. Mantu escaped from court on 19 September 2005,<ref name="rediff2005"> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090916160554/http://www.rediff.com/news/2005/sep/13dubey.htm|date=16 September 2009}} Whistleblower in the 2004 National Highway Authority of India case escaped from police custody on Tuesday in Patna-Source-Rediff News</ref> but was recaptured a month later. In 2010, Mantu and two others were convicted of murder and other offenses and sentenced to life in prison.<ref> {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510082646/http://news.oneindia.in/2010/03/27/satyendranath-dubey-killers-get-life-imprisonment.html|date=10 May 2011}} Satyendranath Dubey killers get life imprisonment-Source-Oneindia. com</ref> | |||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
{{Portal|India|Transport|Roads|Railways}} | |||
; Similar rail development | |||
* ], rail development | |||
*] | |||
; Similar roads development | |||
* ] | |||
** ], Subsumed in Bharatmala | |||
** ], Subsumed in Bharatmala | |||
** ], Subsumed in Bharatmala | |||
* ], Subsumed in Bharatmala | |||
* ] | |||
* ], river road bridge development in India | |||
; Similar ports and river transport development | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ], national water port development connectivity scheme | |||
; Similar air transport development | |||
* ] | |||
* ], national airport development connectivity scheme | |||
; Highways in India | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | |||
; General | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
== References == | |||
{{reflist|2}} | |||
==Further reading== | ==Further reading== | ||
*'''', Don Belt. '']'', October, 2008. | * '''', Don Belt. '']'', October, 2008. | ||
== External links == | |||
* – extremely detailed ''New York Times'' article, dated 4 December 2005 (''free registration required'') | |||
==External links== | |||
* – ] article dated 26 August 2005 | |||
* - extremely detailed '']'' article, dated December 4, 2005 (''free registration required'') | |||
* | |||
* - ] article dated ], ] | |||
* | * | ||
* | |||
* | |||
* | * | ||
<!-- This domain has expired and link is dead * --> | |||
* | |||
{{Indian Highways Network}} | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
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Latest revision as of 11:28, 25 December 2024
National highway network in India connecting four megacities
The Golden Quadrilateral | |
---|---|
Highway map of India with the Golden Quadrilateral highlighted in solid blue colour | |
Route information | |
Maintained by NHAI | |
Length | 5,846 km (3,633 mi) |
Existed | July 2013; 11 years ago (July 2013)–present |
Kolkata – Delhi | |
Length | 1,453 km (903 mi) |
Major intersections | NH 44 & NH 19 |
Delhi – Mumbai | |
Length | 1,419 km (882 mi) |
Major intersections | NH 48 |
Mumbai – Chennai | |
Length | 1,290 km (800 mi) |
Major intersections | NH 48 |
Chennai – Kolkata | |
Length | 1,684 km (1,046 mi) |
Major intersections | NH 16 |
Location | |
Country | India |
Highway system | |
The Golden Quadrilateral (Hindi: स्वर्णिम चतुर्भुज, romanized: Svarnim Chaturbhuj; abbreviated GQ) is a national highway network connecting several major industrial, agricultural and cultural centres of India. It forms a quadrilateral with all the four major metro cities of India forming the vertices, viz., Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south). Other major cities connected by this network include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Vellore, Balasore, Bhadrak, Bhubaneswar, Bhilwara, Cuttack, Berhampur, Durgapur, Faridabad, Guntur, Gurugram, Jaipur, Kanpur, Pune, Kolhapur, Surat, Vijayawada, Eluru, Ajmer, Visakhapatnam, Bodhgaya, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Agra, Mathura, Dhanbad, Gandhinagar, Udaipur, and Vadodara. The main objective of these super highways is to reduce the travel time between the major cities of India, running roughly along the perimeter of the country. The North–South corridor linking Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir) and Kanyakumari (Tamil Nadu), and East–West corridor linking Silchar (Assam) and Porbandar (Gujarat) are additional projects. These highway projects are implemented by the National Highway Authority Of India (NHAI). At 5,846 kilometres (3,633 mi), it is the largest highway project in India and the fifth longest in the world. It is the first phase of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), and consists of two, four, and six-lane express highways, built at a cost of ₹600 billion (US$7.2 billion). The project was planned in 1999, launched in 2001, and was completed on 7 January 2012.
The Golden Quadrilateral project is managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways. The vast majority of the system is not access controlled, although safety features such as guardrails, shoulders, and high-visibility signs are in use. The Mumbai–Pune Expressway, the first controlled-access toll road to be built in India, is a part of the GQ Project but not funded by NHAI, and is separate from the old Mumbai–Pune section of National Highway 48 (India). Infrastructure Leasing & Financial Services (IL&FS) has been one of the major contributors to the infrastructural development activity in the GQ project.
History and costs
The Golden Quadrilateral Project (GQ Project) was intended to establish faster transport networks between major cities and ports, provide smaller towns better access to markets, reduce agricultural spoilage in transport, drive economical growth, and promote truck transport.
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation stone for the project on 6 January 1999. It was planned to be completed by 2006, but there were delays due to land acquisition constraints and disputes with contractors which had to be renegotiated. In January 2012, India announced the four-lane GQ highway network as complete.
India's government had initially estimated that the Golden Quadrilateral project would cost ₹600 billion (US$7.2 billion) at 1999 prices. However, the highway was built under-budget. As of August 2011, the cost incurred by the Indian government was about half of the initial estimate, at ₹308.58 billion (US$3.7 billion). The eight contracts in progress, as of August 2011, were worth ₹16.34 billion (US$200 million).
In September 2009, it was announced that the existing four-laned highways would be converted into six-lane highways. Sections of NH 2, NH 4, NH 5 and NH 8 were prioritized for widening to six lanes under DBFO (Design, Build, Finance, Operate) pattern and more sections would be six-laned in the future. On NH 8, six-lane work was completed from Vadodara to Surat.
No. | Segment | Length | Completed | Source |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Delhi–Kolkata | 1,453 km (903 mi) | 31 August 2011 | Archived 1 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine |
2. | Chennai–Mumbai | 1,290 km (800 mi) | 31 August 2011 | Archived 4 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine |
3. | Kolkata–Chennai | 1,684 km (1,046 mi) | 31 May 2013 | Archived 23 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine |
4. | Mumbai–Delhi | 1,419 km (882 mi) | 31 August 2011 | Archived 28 June 2009 at the Wayback Machine |
Total | 5,846 km (3,633 mi) | 31 May 2013 | Archived 29 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine |
Route
Only National Highways are used in the Golden Quadrilateral. The four legs use the following National Highways (new numbering system):
- Delhi – Kolkata: NH 44 from Delhi to Agra & NH 19 from Agra to Kolkata
- Delhi – Mumbai – Chennai: NH 48
- Kolkata – Chennai: NH 16
Connected cities
Delhi–Kolkata | Kolkata–Chennai | Chennai–Mumbai | Mumbai–Delhi |
---|---|---|---|
Length in each state
The completed Golden Quadrilateral passes through 12 states and a union territory:
- Andhra Pradesh – 1,014 km (630 mi)
- Uttar Pradesh – 756 km (470 mi)
- Rajasthan – 725 km (450 mi)
- Karnataka – 623 km (387 mi)
- Maharashtra – 487 km (303 mi)
- Gujarat – 485 km (301 mi)
- Odisha – 440 km (270 mi)
- West Bengal – 406 km (252 mi)
- Tamil Nadu – 342 km (213 mi)
- Bihar – 204 km (127 mi)
- Jharkhand – 192 km (119 mi)
- Haryana – 152 km (94 mi)
- Delhi – 25 km (16 mi)
- Total – 5,846 km (3,633 mi)
Corruption allegations
Main article: Satyendra DubeyIn August 2003, Jharkhand-based project director Satyendra Dubey, in a letter to the prime minister, outlined a list of bad faith (mala fide) actions in a segment of a highway in Bihar. Dubey's claims included that big contractors had inside information from NHAI officials, that the contractors for this stretch were not executing the project themselves (as stipulated in the contract) but had been subcontracting the work to small builders who lacked technical expertise, and that no follow-up was performed after awarding advances. Dubey's name was leaked by the prime minister's office to the NHAI, and he was transferred against his wishes to Gaya, Bihar, where he was murdered on 27 November.
The NHAI eventually admitted that Dubey's allegations were substantiated, and implemented "radical reforms" in the selection and contract procedures. After considerable Central Bureau of Investigation scrutiny, Mantu Kumar and three accomplices were arrested and charged with murder. Mantu escaped from court on 19 September 2005, but was recaptured a month later. In 2010, Mantu and two others were convicted of murder and other offenses and sentenced to life in prison.
See also
- Similar rail development
- Future of rail transport in India, rail development
- Dedicated freight corridors in India
- Similar roads development
- Bharatmala
- Diamond Quadrilateral, Subsumed in Bharatmala
- National Highways Development Project, Subsumed in Bharatmala
- North-South and East-West Corridor, Subsumed in Bharatmala
- India-China Border Roads, Subsumed in Bharatmala
- Expressways of India
- Setu Bharatam, river road bridge development in India
- Similar ports and river transport development
- Indian Rivers Inter-link
- List of National Waterways in India
- Sagar Mala project, national water port development connectivity scheme
- Similar air transport development
- Indian Human Spaceflight Programme
- UDAN, national airport development connectivity scheme
- Highways in India
- General
References
- "World's 10 longest highways". Archived from the original on 23 January 2014. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
- "Welcome to NHAI". Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 2013-07-23. Road network-Source-The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)
- Golden Quadrilateral Highway Network Archived 23 March 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Road Traffic Technology (2011-06-15). Retrieved on 2013-12-06.
- "Building India's National Pride: The Golden Quadrilateral". Archived from the original on 17 July 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
- "Golden Quadrilateral still has miles to go". Financial Express. Archived from the original on 28 November 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2005.
- R. N. Bhaskar. "Crossing the chasm". Forbes India. Archived from the original on 25 September 2009.
- "Govt declares Golden Quadrilateral complete". The Indian Express. 7 January 2012. Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- "National Highways Development Project Map". National Highways Institute of India. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 5 December 2005.
- "Contractors take the sheen off Golden Quadrilateral". The Financial Express. 3 August 2011. Archived from the original on 31 July 2012.
- Megha Bahree (21 September 2009). "Ambassador: Indian Economy Will Grow". Forbes. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 29 August 2017.
- "Govt. of India declares "Golden Quadrilateral" complete - Jan 7th 2012". Archived from the original on 8 January 2014. Retrieved 9 January 2012.
- "NHAI - Current status". Archived from the original on 29 November 2009. Retrieved 2 December 2009.
- ^ Archived 18 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Bihar govt wakes up to IITian's murder-Source-Rediff News
- Archived 19 October 2007 at the Wayback Machine NHAI report to CBI proves Dubey right, contract rules being rewritten-Source-Indian Express
- Archived 16 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine Whistleblower in the 2004 National Highway Authority of India case escaped from police custody on Tuesday in Patna-Source-Rediff News
- Archived 10 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine Satyendranath Dubey killers get life imprisonment-Source-Oneindia. com
Further reading
- Fast Lane to the Future, Don Belt. National Geographic, October, 2008.
External links
- 'Mile by Mile, India Paves a Smoother Future' – extremely detailed New York Times article, dated 4 December 2005 (free registration required)
- "Golden Quadrilateral still has miles to go" – Financial Express article dated 26 August 2005
- Official website of the National Highways Authority of India
- Map of GQ progress on the NHAI website
- Ministry of Road Transport