Speed limits on expressways revised to 120kmph

For decades, the average Indian’s progress was significantly slower than his international counterpart’s. No, we’re not talking socio-economic standards or quality of life index. We’re simply talking about travelling between cities. While the vast majority across the world were driving between 120-130kmph on their highways and to infinite speeds on Germany’s limitless autobahns, the Indian motorist had to trundle at between 80-100kmph on roads that had been classified expressway by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). In a landmark move, the Union Government has revised this limit to 120kmph, bringing Indian expressways at par with their overseas counterparts. The change has not only been brought in for expressways but also for national highways and even urban roads with a uniform 20kmph increase in each of these. As a result, you can now drive at 100kmph on national highways and at 70kmph on urban roads without breaking the law as opposed to the earlier 80kmph and 50kmph.

These revisions, welcome though they are, however do not apply to specific sections of the road where limits have been prescribed by state agencies on account of the road passing through inhabited areas or through dangerous sections. Also, this revision of speed limits to 120kmph, 100kmph and 70kmph apply only to M1 category vehicles with upto eight seats and no more. That would include the entire lot of passenger vehicles sold in India.

The blanket raising of speed limits by 20kmph now means that two-wheelers can now travel on expressways (wherever permitted) and national highways at upto 80kmph, while city speeds have been now been increased to 60kmph from the earlier 40kmph. Speed limits have been raised for commercial vehicles as well.

While some sections might argue that few people anyway followed the archaic speed limits and therefore in real terms this revision means nothing, the key thing to note is that with this revision the government has finally shown their understanding of the long pending need to create avenues of faster movement between cities and within cities. This not only included the infrastructure necessary but also the legalities that would allow motorists to take advantage of such infrastructure.

The move also means that modern cars will be allowed to cruise at optimum highway speeds that will make for greater efficiencies. This in turn will mean better utilisation of resources and reduction in levels of vehicular pollution on highways.