---
title: "Objectives of road planning"
subject: "Transportation Engineering I"
chapter: 1
key: "semester_6/transportation_engineering_i:objectives-road-planning"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/objectives-road-planning
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Objectives of road planning

Transportation Engineering I · Chapter 1: Introduction to Transportation Planning and engineering

- Asked in: 2078 Baisakh, 4 marks; 2072 Ashwin; 2071 Bhadra; 2068 Magh (old course), 4 marks (asked 4 times)
- Video: [1.2 Necessity & Objectives of Highway Planning | CE502 |](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1HUTup3MOw) — RGPV Official
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/objectives-road-planning
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_6/transportation_engineering_i/chapter-1

## Question

What are the objectives of (highway/road) planning? Write a short note on road planning.

## Short answer

Objectives: develop a systematic network, fix scientific priorities, forecast traffic, use funds economically, provide safe travel, reduce transport costs, integrate with land use, minimise environmental impact, and plan maintenance. Planning involves surveys, demand forecasting, alternatives evaluation, and phased implementation.

## Answer

Road (highway) planning is the process of studying present and future travel demand, selecting the roads to be built or improved, fixing their priority and standard, and preparing a programme within the available funds.

#### Objectives
1. To plan a **systematic road network** so that all important places are connected economically.
2. To **fix priorities** - which roads to build first - using a scientific basis such as benefit-cost ratio and traffic volume.
3. To **estimate future traffic** and provide enough capacity and a suitable design standard.
4. To use **available funds and resources** in the most economical way.
5. To provide **safe, fast, comfortable and economical** travel for the road users.
6. To **reduce the total transport cost** (vehicle operating cost, travel time, accidents).
7. To integrate roads with other modes and with **land use and regional development**.
8. To keep **environmental and social impacts** (land acquisition, pollution, resettlement) small.
9. To plan for **maintenance** and future expansion of the network.

#### Short note
Road planning is done in stages: (1) road survey (inventory, traffic and economic data), (2) analysis of data to forecast the demand, (3) preparing alternative plans and evaluating them, (4) fixing the priority and a phased programme (e.g. 5-year or 20-year plan), (5) implementation and review. In Nepal the Department of Roads prepares the Strategic Road Network master plans and the Road Sector Development Plans, and the local governments prepare District Transport Master Plans for the local roads.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Road (highway) planning primarily involves what?
   A. Only laying the pavement
   B. Only collecting tolls
   C. Studying present and future demand, selecting roads, fixing priority and standard, and preparing a programme within funds
   D. Only maintaining existing roads
   Answer: C. Planning studies demand, selects roads, sets priorities and standards and prepares a programme within available funds. (Key point: Definition of road planning)

2. What scientific basis is used to decide which roads to build first?
   A. Alphabetical order of towns
   B. Benefit-cost ratio and traffic volume
   C. Length of the road only
   D. Political preference
   Answer: B. Priorities are fixed on a scientific basis such as benefit-cost ratio and traffic volume. (Key point: Fixing priorities)

3. Which is the correct order of stages in road planning?
   A. Implementation, survey, analysis, priority
   B. Analysis, implementation, survey, alternatives
   C. Survey, analysis and forecast, alternatives, priority and phased programme, implementation and review
   D. Priority, survey, review, analysis
   Answer: C. The stages run from road survey, data analysis and forecast, alternative plans, priority/programme, to implementation and review. (Key point: Stages of planning)

## Related in Transportation Engineering I

- [Setback on six lane highway, 550 m radius](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3An-72a-setback-350) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 3
- [Major urban road patterns](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_6%2Ftransportation_engineering_i%3Aurban-road-patterns) — Transportation Engineering I, chapter 1, asked 5×

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