The correct option is
2 only
Explanation
The National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) was a major initiative by the Government of India to upgrade, rehabilitate, and widen major highways in India. It was implemented in several phases, each focusing on specific objectives and corridors.Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1: The Golden Quadrilateral project was initiated under Phase III of the NHDP.
Incorrect. The Golden Quadrilateral project, which connects India's four major metropolitan cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata), was initiated under Phase I of the NHDP. Phase III of NHDP focused on upgrading 10,000 km of existing national highways to a four-lane standard. - Statement 2: Phase II of NHDP focused on North–South and East–West corridors.
Correct. Phase II of the NHDP primarily focused on the development of the North-South Corridor (connecting Srinagar to Kanyakumari) and the East-West Corridor (connecting Silchar to Porbandar). This phase also included some other projects. - Statement 3: NHDP was fully replaced by Bharatmala Pariyojana without completing major segments.
Incorrect. While the Bharatmala Pariyojana was launched to subsume and build upon the NHDP, it did not fully replace NHDP without completing major segments. Many segments under NHDP, including the Golden Quadrilateral and significant portions of the North-South and East-West corridors, were substantially completed or were in advanced stages of completion before Bharatmala Pariyojana was launched. Bharatmala Pariyojana aimed to optimize the efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps.