Classification of Roads

The classification of roads is mostly based on following conditions :

• According to traffic.
• According to transported tonnage.
• According to Importance.
• According to location and function.

The classification of roads based on traffic volume or tonnage have been arbitrily fixed by different agencies and there may not be a common agreement regarding the limits for each of classification group.

1. Classification of Roads According to Traffic :

Based on traffic volume the roads are classified as follows :

Types of Roads	Vehicles Per Day
Very heavy traffic roads	Above 600
Heavy traffic roads	251 to 600
Medium traffic roads	70 to 250
Light traffic roads	Below 70

2. Classification of Roads According to Tonnage :

Based on total tonnage per day, the roads are classified as follows :

Types of Road	Vehicles Per Day
Very heavy traffic roads	Above 1524
Heavy traffic roads	1017 to 1524
Medium traffic roads	508 to 1017
Light traffic roads	Below 508

3. Classification of Roads According to Importance :

According to importance of connecting holy places, stations or major cities etc, roads are classified as follows :

• Class 1 Roads.
• Class 2 Roads.
• Class 3 Roads.

4. Classification of Roads According to Location and Function :

Classification based on location and function is defined clearly therefore it is more acceptable for a country. The Nagpur road plan classifies the road in India based on location and function into following 5 categories :

1. National Highways (NH)
2. State Highways (SH)
3. Major District Highways (MDR)
4. Other District Roads (ODR)
5. Village Roads (VR)

Classification of Roads by Nagpur Road Plan

Different Road categories according to this classification are discussed below :

National Highways (NH) :

The main highways running through the length and breadth of India, joining major parts, capital of states, large industrial and tourist centers, foreign highways including roads required for strategic movements for the defence of India etc. are known as National Highways (NHs).

All the national highways are assigned with the respective numbers.

For example:

• Amritsar- Ambala- Delhi Road- NH1
• Delhi- Agra- Kanpur- Culcutta Road – NH2
• Agra- Mumbai Road- NH3
• Modural and Rameswaram- NH49

The responsibility of construction and maintenance of these roads lies with the central government. Central Government holds the responsibility of construction and maintenance of these roads.

State Highways (SH) :

The highways linking up with the national highways of adjacent states, district headquarters and important cities with the states are known as State Highways (SHs).

The geometric design specifications and design speed for NH and SH are same. These highways serve as arterial routes of traffic from district road within the state.

The responsibility of construction and maintenance of these roads lies with state government. However, the central government gives grant for development.

Major District Roads (MDR) :

The important roads within a district serving areas of production and markets and connecting these places with each other or with the main highways are known as Major District Roads (MDRs).

The responsibility of construction and maintenance of these roads lies with District Authorities. However, the state government gives grant for development of these roads.

Other District Roads (ODR) :

The roads serving rural areas of production and providing them with outlet to market centers, tahsil headquarters, block development headquarters, railway stations etc. are known as Other District Roads (ODRs). This have lower design specification than MDR.

Village Roads (VR) :

The roads connecting villages or group of villages with each other or with the nearest road of higher category are known as village roads.

These roads are very important from the rural area development point of view. They are generally un-metalled with single lane width of stabilized soil or gravel. The responsibility of construction and maintenance of these roads lies with the local district authorities.

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Classification of Road System by Third Road Development Plan (1981-2001)

According to the third road development plan, the roads in the country are classified into three classes, for the purpose of transport planning, functional identification and assigning priorities on a road network :

• Primary System.
• Secondary System.
• Tertiary System.

1. Primary System :

• Express Ways
• National Highways (NH)

(a) Express Ways :

Express ways are a separate class of highways with superior facilities and design standard and are meant as through routes having very high volume of traffic. These highways should permit only fast moving vehicles.

Express way may be owned by central government or a state government depending on whether the route is a national highway or state highway.

2. Secondary System :

The secondary system consists of two categories of roads

• State Highways (SH)
• Major District Roads (MDR)

3. Tertiary System :

The tertiary system are rural roads and these consists of two categories of roads :

• Other District Roads (ODR)
• Village Roads (VR)

Classification of Urban Roads :

The road system within urban areas are classified as urban roads. The urban authorities are responsible to take care of these roads.

Generally the urban roads other than the express ways are classified as :

• Arterial Roads.
• Sub- Arterial Roads.
• Collector Streets.
• Local Streets.

Arterial Roads :

The streets primarily for through traffic on a continuous route, but with high level of traffic mobility are known as arterial roads.

Sub- Arterial Roads :

The streets primarily for through traffic on a continuous route but have a lower level of traffic mobility than the arterials are known as sub-arterial roads.

Collector Street :

The streets which provides access to arterial streets and they collect and distribute traffic from and to local streets is known as collector streets.

Local Street :

The streets which provides access to abutting streets are known as local streets.