The Golden Quadrilateral (Hindi: Svarnim Chaturbhuj; abbreviated GQ) is a network of national highways connecting major cities of India. It roughly forms a quadrilateral with major cities –Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south) forming the termini. Stretching 5,846km (3,633mi), it is one of the longest roads in the world.[1]
In 1998, the Government of India launched the National Highways Development Project (NHDP). The project envisaged the development of about 13,150km (8,170mi) of four and six lane highways at an estimated cost of ₹540 billion (equivalent to ₹2.3trillionorUS$25billion in 2023).[2][3][4] The Golden Quadrilateral project was part of the first phase of NHDP, and involved the construction of 5,846km (3,633mi) of multi-lane highways connecting the major cities.[5][6] It was intended to establish better and faster transport networks between major cities, thereby reducing accidents and costs,[3] and drive economical growth by providing better access to markets.[6][7][8]
Construction
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was tasked with the implementation of the project.[8] The foundation stone for the project was laid on 6 January 1999 by then prime ministerAtal Bihari Vajpayee.[9] As per the original plan, majority of the project was intended to be completed by December 2004.[5] However, as of July 2005, four laning of only 4,944km (3,072mi) was complete, and the project timeline was revised to be completed by December 2006.[10]
The project faced further delays due to land acquisition issues, disputes with contractors, and renegotiation of contracts.[8][10][11] A NHAI engineer Satyendra Dubey wrote letter to the prime minister highlighting that the large contractors were being given inside information by NHAI officials, and the contractors were subcontracting the work to smaller companies which lacked technical expertise.[12] While Dubey was transferred and was later murdered for voicing out his concerns, NHAI implemented reforms in contract procedures due to the allegations.[13][14]
In September 2009, the government announced plans to convert the existing four-lane highways into six-lane highways in the future.[15] As per an update given to the Parliament of India, about 99.7% of the project was complete by 2009.[16] In January 2012, the government announced that the entire project has been completed.[17][18] The final cost of the project was estimated at ₹324.92 billion (equivalent to ₹1.4trillionorUS$15billion in 2023).[8]
Network
The Golden Quadrilateral consists 5,846km (3,633mi) of multi-lane highways roughly forming a quadrilateral connecting four major cities –Delhi (north), Kolkata (east), Mumbai (west) and Chennai (south).[5][6][17]
A section of the highway between Chennai and MumbaiPart of the Delhi-Kolkata section of the highway
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