The correct option is 1 only
Explanation
Roads in India are classified into distinct categories based on their connectivity, administrative control, and function. The primary classifications include National Highways, State Highways, District Roads, Rural Roads, and Border Roads. Each category serves a specific tier of the transport hierarchy.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: District roads are responsible for connecting the district headquarters with the main towns and other important places within the district. They also serve as feeders to State Highways and National Highways. These roads are typically maintained by the Zila Parishad.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Rural roads are intended to provide connectivity to villages and rural areas, linking them to nearby towns. Connecting state capitals with metropolitan cities is the primary function of National Highways (NH). Schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) focus specifically on rural connectivity, not inter-metropolitan transit.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Border roads have immense strategic importance. They are constructed and maintained by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to ensure the mobility of defense forces and the supply of essential goods to remote and sensitive border areas. They are critical for national security and are not of limited importance.
Key Takeaway:
The hierarchy of road transport assigns inter-city and inter-state connectivity to National and State Highways, intra-district connectivity to District Roads, and last-mile connectivity to Rural Roads. Border Roads are specialized infrastructure vital for defense logistics.