The Golden Quadrilateral is a major highway network in India that connects the four largest metropolitan cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata, forming a roughly quadrilateral shape on the map. It is India's longest highway project and the fifth longest in the world, spanning about 5,846 kilometers (3,633 miles)

. Key Features:

• The project was initiated in 2001 under Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as part of the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP)

• It links major industrial, agricultural, and cultural centers across 13 states and one Union Territory, including key cities like Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Pune, Jaipur, and Surat

• The highways making up the Golden Quadrilateral include NH19 (Delhi-Kolkata), AH46 (Kolkata-Mumbai), NH48 (Mumbai-Chennai), and NH48 (Delhi-Mumbai)

• The network facilitates faster transportation, reduces travel time, improves freight movement, and boosts trade efficiency across India

• It has significantly contributed to economic development by enhancing connectivity, generating jobs, increasing property values, and supporting industrial growth in smaller towns along the routes

Economic and Social Impact:

• The Golden Quadrilateral has improved logistics and reduced costs for transportation of goods and people.
• It has helped reduce agricultural spoilage by enabling farmers to transport produce more efficiently to urban markets.
• The project has spurred urbanization, real estate development, and industrialization in connected regions

In summary, the Golden Quadrilateral is a transformative infrastructure project that connects India's major metros through a high-speed highway network, playing a crucial role in the country's economic integration and growth