The arterial roads of the country for inter-state movements of goods and passengers. They traverse the length and width of the country connecting the National and State capitals, major ports and rail junctions and link up with border roads and foreign highways.
Further, Expressways offer superior highway facility with higher specifications. It provides for more lanes, better surface, divided carriageway, controlled access grade separations at cross-roads and fencing etc. Expressways permits only fast moving vehicles and are meant to carry through traffic. The Expressway may be owned by the Central Government or State Government depending upon whether the route is a National Highway or a State Road.
The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare any other highway to be a national highway and on the publication of such notification such highway shall be deemed to be specified in the Schedule.