NH 56
Chittorgarh–Vapi Highway
737 km
Open
3 states
National Highway
Route
NH 56 runs 737 km from Somnagar, Rajasthan to Vapi, Gujarat.
Crosses Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh.
Through Somnagar, Chittorgarh, Pratapgarh, Banswara, Dahod, Alirajpur, Bodeli, Rajpipla, Vyara and Vapi.
Why it matters
It gives the tribal districts of the Rajasthan–Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border a direct road to the industrial belt of south Gujarat, and it is the main approach to the Statue of Unity from the north.
History
National Highway 56 runs south-west from the Chittorgarh area of Rajasthan through Pratapgarh and Banswara into the tribal districts of eastern Gujarat and western Madhya Pradesh — Dahod, Alirajpur, Chhota Udepur — then past Kevadiya and Rajpipla and down through the Dangs to the coast at Vapi. It is one of the few good roads through this hill country, which sits at the meeting point of three states and has historically been among the least connected parts of western India.
Good to know
- Passes Kevadiya, where the Statue of Unity stands beside the Sardar Sarovar dam.
- Crosses the tribal belt where Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh meet.
- It links the Aravalli foothills to the industrial coast of south Gujarat at Vapi.
- Banswara, on the route, is known as the city of a hundred islands for the lakes of the Mahi river.
On the road
Hilly and winding in the middle sections through Alirajpur and Chhota Udepur. The Kevadiya stretch is busy with visitor traffic at weekends.
More details
- Lanes
- 2–4 lanes