Golden Quadrilateral: Route, Map, Distance, Toll, and Features of India’s Key Highway

The Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) is a network of four national highways in India, connecting the major metro cities of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata in a quadrilateral configuration. This significant infrastructure project has played a crucial role in boosting India’s economic development. As the longest highway project in India and the fifth longest in the world, the GQ spans approximately 5,800 kilometers (3,600 miles).

Route and Distance

The Golden Quadrilateral connects the following four major cities. The route begins in Delhi, traveling north on NH 1 to Agra, then south on NH 2 to Kolkata. From Kolkata, it proceeds on NH 6 to Chennai. From Chennai, it heads west on NH 4 to Mumbai, and finally north on NH 8, completing the quadrilateral back to Delhi.

Delhi to Kolkata: 1,453 km

Kolkata to Chennai: 1,684 km

Chennai to Mumbai: 1,290 km

Mumbai to Delhi: 1,419 km

Key Features

The Golden Quadrilateral spans approximately 5,800 kilometers (3,600 miles). It is a four-lane or six-lane highway with a paved surface, designed to handle high volumes of traffic efficiently. Numerous rest stops, fuel stations, and other facilities are available for travelers along the highway.

Tolls

The Golden Quadrilateral is a tolled highway, with rates varying based on vehicle type and distance traveled. These tolls are crucial for maintaining the highway and funding future expansion projects.

Future Plans

The Indian government has ambitious plans to enhance the Golden Quadrilateral by adding additional lanes to accommodate growing traffic, improving safety features along the highway, and developing new east-west corridors to better integrate the GQ with other regions of the country.

The Golden Quadrilateral stands as a testament to India’s infrastructure prowess, facilitating economic growth, improving connectivity, and enhancing travel efficiency across the nation.