Lok Sabha Question No. 645 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-13
Subject: Increasing Load on NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.645 ANSWERED ON 13 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## INCREASING LOAD ON NHS

## 645. SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

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

be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government has taken  cognizance of the fact that pressure on thehighways is continuously increasing in the country;

(b) whether the Government has taken any special measures to tackle this increasing pressure;

(c) if so, the details thereof;

(d)  whether  any  agreement  has  been  signed  with  various  technology  industry  groups  for  the maintenance of the highways; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

## (SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (c) This  Ministry  is  primarily  responsible  for  development  and  maintenance  of National Highways (NHs). Although, NHs comprise only about 2.3 % of total road network, but they carrymore than about 40% of the road traffic.The total length of NHs has been enhanced from about 91,287 km as on 31.03.2014 to about 1,31,326 km at present. Further, the Ministry has  approved  In-Principle  declaration  of  about  53,031  km  length  of  State  roads  as  new  NHs subject to outcome of the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs).

The Ministry had taken up detailed review of NHs network with a view to develop the road connectivity to Border areas, development of Coastal roads including road connectivity for Non-Major  ports,  improvement  in  the  efficiency  of  National  Corridors,  development  of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes along with integration with Sagarmala, etc., under Bharatmala Pariyojana. The programme envisages development of about 26,000 km length  of  Economic  Corridors,  which  along  with  Golden  Quadrilateral  (GQ)  and  North-South and East-West (NS-EW) Corridors are expected to carry majority of the Freight Traffic on roads. Further,  about  8,000  km  of  Inter  Corridors  and  about  7,500  km  of  Feeder  Routes  have  been identified for improving effectiveness of Economic Corridors, GQ and NS-EW Corridors. The programme envisages development of Ring Roads / bypasses and elevated corridors to decongest the traffic passing through cities and enhance logistic efficiency.

The  Cabinet  Committee  on  Economic  Affairs  (CCEA)  approved  the  proposal  for investment  approval  for  Phase-I  of  'Bharatmala  Pariyojana'  during  its  meeting  held  on 24.10.2017.'Bharatmala  Pariyojana'  Phase-I  includes  development  of  Economic  corridors (9,000 km), Inter-corridor and feeder roads (6,000 km), National Corridors Efficiency improvements (5,000 km), Border and International connectivity roads (2,000 km), Coastal and port connectivity roads (2,000 km), Expressways (800 km) and balance length of about 10,000 km of roads under National Highways Development Project (NHDP).The programme is targeted for completion in 2021-2022.

The  Ministry  has  taken  up  development  of  NHs/  roads  under  Phase-I  of  Bharatmala Pariyojana  (which  has  inter-alia  subsumed  NHDP),  Special  Accelerated  Road  Development Programme for the North East Region (SARDP-NE) including Arunachal Pradesh Package of Roads,  Special  Programme  for  Development  of  Roads  in  the  Left  Wing  Extremism  (LWE) affected  areas,  Externally  Aided  Projects  (EAP),  National  Highways  (Original)  [NH  (O)] scheme, etc.

(d) and (e) The Ministry encourages use of new materials and techniques in construction of National Highways and has so far allowed twenty two new materials/techniques to be used on National Highways.

The Ministry has not signed any agreement with any technology industry groups for the maintenance of the highways.

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