Lok Sabha Question No. 1549 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-07-26
Subject: Length of NH
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: MD. BADARIDDOZA KHAN, MOHAMMAD SALIM

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1549

ANSWERED ON 26 TH  JULY, 2018

## LENGTH OF NH

## 1549. SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN: SHRI MOHD. SALIM:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सडक परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the annual increase in the length of National Highways (NHs) in the country;
- (b) the percentage of NHs out of all the roads in the country;
- (c) the percentage of accidents on NHs compared to total road accidents; and
- (d) whether the Government intends to reduce accidents on roads, especially NHs?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a)  This  Ministry  is  primarily  responsible  for  development  and  maintenance  of  National Highways (NHs). The total length of NHs has been enhanced from about 21,378 km during 1947 to  about  1,29,709  km  at  present.  The  details  of  plan-wise  length  of  NHs  is  annexed. Further, the Ministry has approved In-Principle declaration of about 51,729 km length of State roads as new NHs subject to outcome of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

- (b) The total length of NH network of about 1,29,709 km is about 2.31 percent of the total road network of about 56.03 lakh km in the Country.
- (c)  Total  accidents  on  NHs  is  about  30.4  percent  of  total  road  accidents  in  the  country.

(d) United Nations has set the target to reduce road accidents, injuries and fatalities by 50% by 2020. The Government is also committed to achieve the target set by United Nations along with other member countries. The Ministry has taken a number of steps to prevent such road accidents as per details mentioned under:

(i)  The Government has approved a National Road Safety Policy. This Policy outlines various policy measures such as promoting awareness, establishing road safety information data base, encouraging safer road infrastructure including application of intelligent transport, enforcement of safety laws, etc.

(ii) The Government has constituted the National Road Safety Council as the apex body to take policy decisions in matters of road safety.

(iii) The Ministry has requested all States/Union Territories (UTs) for setting up of State Road Safety Council and District Road Safety Committees, and to hold their meetings regularly.

(iv) The Ministry has constituted Group of Ministers of State Transport Minister to examine the best practices of Transport and suggest issues to improve road safety.

(v) Based on the recommendation of Group of Ministers, the Ministry introduced Motor Vehicle (Amendment) Bill 2017 covering entire gamut of road safety.

(vi)  The  Ministry  has  formulated  a  multi-pronged  strategy  to  address  the  issue  of  road  safety based  on  4  'E's  viz.  Education,  Engineering  (both  of  roads  and  vehicles),  Enforcement  and Emergency Care.

(vii) Road safety has been made an integral part of road design at planning stage.

(viii) Road Safety Audit of selected stretches of NHs has been taken up.

(ix) High priority has been accorded to identification and rectification of black spots (accident prone spots) on NHs.

(x) Setting up of model driving training institutes in States and refresher training to drivers of Heavy Motor Vehicle in the unorganized sector.

(xi) Advocacy/Publicity campaigns on road safety through the electronic and print media.

(xii) Tightening of safety standards for vehicles like seat belts, anti-lock braking system etc.

ANNEXURE REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (a)  OF  LOK  SABHA  UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1549 ANSWERED ON 26.07.2018 ASKED BY SHRI MD. BADARUDDOZA KHAN AND SHRI MOHD. SALIM REGARDING LENGTH OF NH.

The details of plan wise length of National Highways (NHs):-

| Period                           | Year      | Total Length (km)   |
|----------------------------------|-----------|---------------------|
| As on 01.04.1947                 |           | 21,378              |
| First Plan                       | 1951-1956 | 22,193              |
| Second Plan                      | 1956-1961 | 23,707              |
| Third Plan                       | 1961-1966 | 23,886              |
| Interregnum period(Rolling Plan) | 1966-1969 | 23,938              |
| Fourth Plan                      | 1969-1974 | 28,757              |
| Fifth Plan                       | 1974-1979 | 28,977              |
| Interregnum period(Rolling Plan) | 1979-1980 | 29,023              |
| Sixth Plan                       | 1980-1984 | 31,980              |
| Seventh Plan                     | 1985-1990 | 33,612              |
| Interregnum period(Rolling Plan) | 1990-1992 | 33,689              |
| Eighth Plan                      | 1992-1997 | 34,298              |
| Ninth Plan                       | 1997-2002 | 58,112              |
| Tenth Plan                       | 2002-2007 | 66,590              |
| Eleventh Plan                    | 2007-2012 | 76,818              |
| Twelfth Plan                     | 2012-2017 | 1,14,158            |
| As on date                       |           | 1,29,709            |

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