India’s road network is vast, where some highways stretch across thousands of kilometres, like NH 44 that links Srinagar in the north to Kanyakumari in the south. Yet, not all highways are long; some are very
short but still play an important role. One such example is NH 548 in Maharashtra, which is considered the smallest national highway in the country. Covering just under 5 kilometres, this tiny stretch connects the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) near Palaspe. Despite its short length, NH 548 is crucial for local transport.
Smallest National Highway Route
The route starts in Kalamboli and ends at NH 348, linking this tiny highway to the larger national highway network. At the starting point, it intersects with NH 48, which is the official beginning of this stretch. Despite being only a few kilometres long, NH 548 is set to become even more significant, as it will soon serve as a key route connecting the newly built Navi Mumbai International Airport. NH-548 already plays a crucial role as it helps transport the cargo from JNPT, which is considered the country’s largest container port. The route also links the Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor.
Interestingly, NH 548 shares the title of being the shortest National Highway in India with NH 118, which is also measures 5 kilometres long and connects Asanbani to Jamshedpur in Jharkhand. In the past, NH 966 B (formerly NH 47A) in Kerala, which linked Kundannoor to Willingdon Island in Kochi, was considered the shortest, with 6 kilometres. After recent updates, NH 548 and NH 118 have become the shortest highways. In comparison, NH 44 is India’s longest National Highway, which goes on for 4112 kilometres.
Comparison With the Longest Highway
While NH 548 and NH 118 are important trade routes, the Kashmir to Kanyakumari highway passes through some of India’s holiest Hindu pilgrimage sites. Cities and towns like Rishikesh, Devprayag, Rudraprayag, Karnaprayag, Chamoli, Joshimath and Badrinath come in between this route. NH 44 connects states such as Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
