Urban right-of-way (ROW) norms: The ROW in urban areas is commonly kept in the range of 24 m to 60 m for which road categories?

Introduction / Context:In urban stretches, National Highways (NH) and State Highways (SH) require sizeable ROW to accommodate multi-lane carriageways, medians, service roads, utilities, footpaths, cycle tracks, and provision for future widening. A practical planning band frequently adopted is 24–60 m depending on function and context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Location: urban areas with constrained right-of-way compared to rural sections.
• Road categories: NH and SH.

Concept / Approach:Urban ROW is influenced by cross-section elements, abutting land use, public transport facilities, and utilities. NH and SH in cities typically call for larger widths than MDR/ODR/VR roads, hence fall within the 24–60 m planning band in many urban master plans.

Step-by-Step Solution:Identify road categories requiring larger ROW: NH and SH.Associate with the given range: 24–60 m.Select the combined option.

Verification / Alternative check:Sample urban cross-sections for 4/6-lane arterials (including median, footpaths, and utilities) readily consume 30–45 m; corridors with service lanes and BRT/metro interfaces can reach or exceed 60 m in select locations.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• NH or SH alone are incomplete; both typically fit the stated band.
• None/MDR only: MDRs are usually narrower than NH/SH in urban settings.

Common Pitfalls:

• Equating rural ROW norms with urban requirements despite denser utilities and multimodal needs.
• Ignoring provision for future grade separations and service roads within urban ROW.

Final Answer:Both (a) and (b)