India has one of the largest road networks in the world. But have you ever noticed the colorful milestone markers along the roads and wondered what they mean? Whether you're on a road trip or heading to work, these small stone markers tell you a lot more than just the distance. Let’s break it down in simple terms.
National Highways (NH) – Yellow Milestones
National Highways are the main roads that connect major cities, state capitals, ports, and borders across India. They are like the backbone of our road network, helping long-distance travel and transporting goods across states.
The milestones on National Highways are painted yellow with a white top. These are easy to spot and are maintained by NHAI (National Highways Authority of India). For example, if you're traveling from Delhi to Jaipur or from Chennai to Bengaluru, you're likely driving on a National Highway.
State Highways (SH) – Green Milestones
State Highways are the roads that connect important cities, towns, and districts within a state. Think of them as the second layer of the road system. They help you move between small cities or from a village to the nearest big town.
The milestones on State Highways are painted green with a white top. These roads are maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD). So if you’re driving from Bhopal to Indore, or from Kochi to Munnar within a state, you're likely using a State Highway.
City Roads – Blue/ Black Milestones
City or municipal roads are the ones we use daily within our cities and towns. These include roads connecting your home to markets, offices, schools, hospitals, and more.
In many cities, the milestones are blue with a white top to indicate they fall under the jurisdiction of local municipal bodies like Nagar Nigams or city corporations. These roads are usually shorter in length but very important for everyday city life.
Rural Roads – Orange Milestones
Rural roads connect villages to nearby towns or district centers. These are the roads that help farmers transport crops, children get to school, and health services reach remote areas.
Milestones on rural or village roads are usually black with a white top. These roads are maintained under schemes like PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) or by local Panchayats. They may not always be as smooth as highways but are crucial for rural development.
Why Milestone Colors Matter
These milestone colors are not just for decoration. They help drivers, road maintenance teams, and even emergency services quickly identify what type of road they’re on. Each color has a meaning:
Yellow : National Highway
Green : State Highway
Blue / Black : City Road
Orange : Rural Road
Next time you’re on the road, take a moment to look at the milestone beside you. That little colored marker tells a big story about where you are and how far you’ve come. And now, you know exactly what those colors mean!
Read more : The Journey of Indian Roads & What Milestones Really Mean! | Instrumentation Zone
National Highways (NH) – Yellow MilestonesNational Highways are the main roads that connect major cities, state capitals, ports, and borders across India. They are like the backbone of our road network, helping long-distance travel and transporting goods across states.
The milestones on National Highways are painted yellow with a white top. These are easy to spot and are maintained by NHAI (National Highways Authority of India). For example, if you're traveling from Delhi to Jaipur or from Chennai to Bengaluru, you're likely driving on a National Highway.
State Highways (SH) – Green MilestonesState Highways are the roads that connect important cities, towns, and districts within a state. Think of them as the second layer of the road system. They help you move between small cities or from a village to the nearest big town.
The milestones on State Highways are painted green with a white top. These roads are maintained by the State Public Works Department (PWD). So if you’re driving from Bhopal to Indore, or from Kochi to Munnar within a state, you're likely using a State Highway.
City Roads – Blue/ Black MilestonesCity or municipal roads are the ones we use daily within our cities and towns. These include roads connecting your home to markets, offices, schools, hospitals, and more.
In many cities, the milestones are blue with a white top to indicate they fall under the jurisdiction of local municipal bodies like Nagar Nigams or city corporations. These roads are usually shorter in length but very important for everyday city life.
Rural Roads – Orange MilestonesRural roads connect villages to nearby towns or district centers. These are the roads that help farmers transport crops, children get to school, and health services reach remote areas.
Milestones on rural or village roads are usually black with a white top. These roads are maintained under schemes like PMGSY (Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana) or by local Panchayats. They may not always be as smooth as highways but are crucial for rural development.
Why Milestone Colors MatterThese milestone colors are not just for decoration. They help drivers, road maintenance teams, and even emergency services quickly identify what type of road they’re on. Each color has a meaning:
Yellow : National Highway Green : State Highway Blue / Black : City Road Orange : Rural RoadNext time you’re on the road, take a moment to look at the milestone beside you. That little colored marker tells a big story about where you are and how far you’ve come. And now, you know exactly what those colors mean!
Read more : The Journey of Indian Roads & What Milestones Really Mean! | Instrumentation Zone
