Top 10 Longest and Shortest in India, Bridges, Rivers, Railways & More, Full details 2025 updated
Top 10 Longest and Shortest in India
India is home to some remarkable extremes – from the longest bridges stretching across mighty rivers to the shortest national highways and rail routes. Here’s a complete list of the Top 10 longest and shortest natural and man-made features in India that are often asked in competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, Banking, and Railways.
Table of Contents
Bridges in India
Longest Bridge
Atal Setu (Mumbai, Maharashtra)
- Length: 21.8 km
- Type: Road Bridge
- Over: Arabian Sea
- Opened: 2024
Shortest Bridge
Chota Pul (Kolkata)
- Length: ~10 meters
- Use: Pedestrian and light vehicles
- Location: Local bridge in urban Kolkata
Rivers in India
Longest River (within India)
Ganga River
- Length: ~2,525 km
- Origin: Gangotri Glacier
- Ends: Bay of Bengal
Shortest River
Arvari River (Rajasthan)
- Length: ~90 km
- Significance: Revived by villagers after drying up for decades
Rail Routes
Longest Train Route
Dibrugarh to Kanyakumari (Vivek Express)
- Distance: ~4,273 km
- Travel Time: Over 82 hours
- States Covered: Assam to Tamil Nadu
Shortest Rail Route
Nagpur to Ajni (Maharashtra)
- Distance: ~3 km
- Travel Time: 5 minutes
Road Highways
Longest National Highway
NH-44
- Length: ~3,745 km
- Route: Srinagar (J&K) to Kanyakumari (TN)
- Covers: 11 Indian states
Shortest National Highway
NH-766EE (Karnataka)
- Length: ~4.3 km
- Location: Hattikeri to Belekeri Port
Tunnels in India
Longest Tunnel
Atal Tunnel (Rohtang) – Himachal Pradesh
- Length: 9.02 km
- Altitude: Over 3,000 meters
- Type: Road tunnel under the Rohtang Pass
Shortest Railway Tunnel
Parsik Tunnel (Maharashtra)
- Length: ~1.3 km
- Opened: 1916
- Location: Between Thane and Diva
Dams in India
Longest Dam
Hirakud Dam (Odisha)
- Length: 25.79 km (one of the world’s longest)
- River: Mahanadi
- Built: 1957
Shortest Major Dam
Mukkombu Dam (Tamil Nadu)
- Length: ~685 meters
- River: Kollidam
Summary Table
| Category | Longest in India | Shortest in India |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge | Atal Setu (Mumbai, Maharashtra) (21.8 km) | Chota Pul (~10 m) |
| River | Ganga (~2,525 km) | Arvari (~90 km) |
| Train Route | Vivek Express (4,273 km) | Nagpur–Ajni (~3 km) |
| Highway | NH-44 (3,745 km) | NH-766EE (4.3 km) |
| Tunnel | Atal Tunnel (9.02 km) | Parsik Tunnel (~1.3 km) |
| Dam | Hirakud Dam (25.79 km) | Mukkombu Dam (~685 m) |
Final Thoughts
These extremes in India’s infrastructure and geography not only highlight engineering marvels but also provide crucial data for students and aspirants. Whether you’re preparing for a competitive exam or simply boosting your general knowledge, keeping such lists in mind gives you an edge.