The Golden Quadrilateral highway project connects India's major metropolitan cities by a network of four-lane and six-lane roads. Which one of the following towns is not located on this Golden Quadrilateral route?

Introduction / Context:
The Golden Quadrilateral is one of India's most important highway projects, designed to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata through high quality national highways. Many exam questions ask which cities lie on this network and which do not. This question tests whether you can identify a town that is not on the Golden Quadrilateral route.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The project connects the four metro cities through intermediate cities and towns.
• The options are Ajmer, Ahmedabad, Jabalpur, and Gaya.
• We assume the commonly referenced alignment of the Golden Quadrilateral from National Highways Authority of India.

Concept / Approach:
The Golden Quadrilateral connects Delhi to Mumbai via cities like Jaipur and Ahmedabad, Mumbai to Chennai via Pune and Bengaluru, Chennai to Kolkata via Vijayawada and Bhubaneswar, and Kolkata back to Delhi via cities like Gaya, Varanasi, and Kanpur. Ajmer in Rajasthan and Ahmedabad in Gujarat lie on the Delhi Mumbai stretch, and Gaya lies on the Kolkata Delhi stretch. Jabalpur, located in Madhya Pradesh, lies more centrally in India and is not on the main Golden Quadrilateral alignment.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the four legs of the Golden Quadrilateral: Delhi Mumbai, Mumbai Chennai, Chennai Kolkata, and Kolkata Delhi.Step 2: Match Ajmer with the Delhi Mumbai route, where it appears as one of the towns the highway passes through.Step 3: Match Ahmedabad with the Delhi Mumbai leg, as it is a major city on this route.Step 4: Match Gaya with the Kolkata Delhi leg, since the route from Kolkata towards Delhi passes near Gaya and Varanasi.Step 5: Observe that Jabalpur is located in Madhya Pradesh away from the standard Golden Quadrilateral corridors, so it is not on the Golden Quadrilateral route.

Verification / Alternative check:
Maps of the Golden Quadrilateral and official documentation from the National Highways Authority of India show the exact alignment. These confirm the presence of Ahmedabad, Ajmer, and Gaya along its stretches, while Jabalpur does not appear on the main corridor, confirming that it is not on the Golden Quadrilateral route.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Ajmer: Lies on the important Delhi Mumbai highway route and is part of the Golden Quadrilateral alignment.
Ahmedabad: A major commercial city on the Delhi Mumbai section of the Golden Quadrilateral.
Gaya: Located on the Kolkata Delhi stretch and included in the Golden Quadrilateral corridor alignment.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students think only very large cities are part of the Golden Quadrilateral, and they may not be aware that towns like Gaya and Ajmer are also on the route. Others may choose incorrectly because they are more familiar with Jabalpur as a big city in Madhya Pradesh. Always rely on the actual highway alignment rather than familiarity with city names.

Final Answer:
Jabalpur is not on the Golden Quadrilateral route.