The pathways and unmetalled roads have been used for transportation in India since ancient times. With economic and technological development, metalled roads and railways were developed to move a large volume of goods and people from one place to another. Ropeways, cableways and pipelines were devised to cater to the demands of transporting specific goods under special circumstances.

After Independence, why was the twenty-year road plan introduced in 1961?

To improve the conditions of roads in India. 

After Independence, twenty-year road plan (1961) was introduced to improve the conditions of roads in India. However, roads continue to concentrate in and around urban centres. Rural and remote areas had the least connectivity by road