Question

What is the Golden Quadrilateral ?
1. Rail lines joining metros
2. Major Air Routes
3. National Highway Project
4. Gold Trade Routes
5. None of the above/More than one of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : National Highway Project

The correct answer is National Highway Project.

• Golden Quadrilateral:
  • In 1999, then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee laid the foundation stone for the GoldenQuadrilateral (GQ) Highway project.
  • The Golden Quadrilateral is the longest road project in India and the fifth-longest highway in the world.
  • It connects four major cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.
  • The GQ project is managed by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) under the Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways.
  • The Golden Quadrilateral constitutes only the national highways of the country and not state highways and rural-urban roadways. 

• Impact of Golden Quadrilateral:
  • Provided a huge boost to manufacturing activity and productivity in districts located within 10km of the network.
  • Facilitated the movement of growing young firms out of the congested big cities.
  • 49% overall output increase for the average district located on the Golden Quadrilateral network.
  • Encouraging efficient decentralization by making intermediate cities more attractive to manufacturing entrants.
  • Moderate-density districts—like Surat in Gujarat or Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh—that border Golden Quadrilateral registered more than 100% increase in new output.
  • Industries showed improved efficiency.
• Benefits for the country:
  • Provides faster transport networks between major cities and ports.
  • Provides connectivity to major agricultural, industrial, and cultural centres of India.
  • Provides smoother movement of goods and people within the country.
  • Enables industrial development and job creation in smaller towns through access to varied markets.