22.

Which apex body in India improves the quality of National Highways? Examine the significance of National Highways.

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the apex body in India to improve the

quality of national highways.

Significance of national highways:

a. Connectivity: They connect major cities, industrial hubs, mines, coalfields, seaports, airports and markets to each other.

b. Faster transport: They provide quicker transport between two places by road.

c. Strategic: They are strategically important in border areas for the movement of defence personnel, vehicles and other materials.

d. Although national highways are about 2% of the total road length, they carry about 40% of total road traffic.

e. They connect people belonging to different regions and bring unity in a diverse country.

Thus, national highways are significant for economic development and unity of the country.