Lok Sabha Question No. 1761 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-12-20
Subject: Maintenance of NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: N.K. PREMACHANDRAN, Kunhalikutty, P.K.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1761

ANSWERED ON 20 TH  DECEMBER, 2018

## MAINTENANCE OF NHs

## 1761.   SHRI N.K.PREMACHANDRAN: SHRI P.K.KUNHALIKUTTY:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding the amount spent for maintenance of each National Highway (NH) during the last four years;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that the quality of maintenance works are not up to the prescribed standard and if so, the reason for poor quality in maintenance work;
- (c) whether  it  comes  to  the  notice  of  the  Government  that  several  complaints  have  been lodged  in  different  States  against  the  corruptions  in  implementing  the  NH  works  and  their maintenance;
- (d) if so, the details of action taken by the Government to regulate and monitor the NH works and maintenance works in a transparent manner;
- (e) the  procedure  adopted by  the Government to test the quality of materials used for NH work and their maintenance; and
- (f) if so, whether the Government proposes to establish an agency under CVC to crosscheck the NH work and its maintenance?

## ANSWER

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

(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

- (a) The Development and Maintenance of National Highways (NHs)is a continuous process. The works are accordingly taken up on NHs from time to time as per inter-se-priority, traffic density, and availability of funds to keep the NHs in traffic worthy conditions.

The allocation of funds for Maintenance of NHs are not made NHs-wise. The year-wise details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred for Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of NHs during last four years are as follows:-

| Year    | Allocation of Funds for M&R of NHs (Rs. in crore)   | Expenditure incurred (Rs. in crore)   |
|---------|-----------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| 2014-15 | 2,599.25                                            | 2,534.24                              |
| 2015-16 | 2,698.40                                            | 2,527.99                              |
| 2016-17 | 2,846.68                                            | 2,502.99                              |
| 2017-18 | 2,875.75                                            | 2,578.68                              |

(b) to (d) Usually, the Annual Outlay earmarked for M&R of NHs have been about 35% to 40%  of  the  estimated  requirement  of  funds  as  per  the  Ministry's  norms.  This  leads  to  the compulsion of thin spreading of available resources. Efforts are made to keep the NHs in traffic worthiness within available resources as per inter-se priority and traffic density.

The inter-se priority for carrying out M&R of NHs generally depends upon nature and  extent  of  damages,  overall  condition  of  NH  stretches,  traffic  density,  minimum  works required to  be  undertaken  to  ensure  traffic  worthiness  of  NHs,  the  NH  stretches  under  Defect Liability Period (DLP) obligation or stretches under Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT)/ Hybrid Annuity Mode (HAM)/ Operate, Maintenance and Transfer (OMT) Concessions, ongoing works on NHs, status of action taken up for new developmental works, availability of funds, etc.

Whenever any complaints of irregularities/ corruption in works on NHs come to the  notice  of  the  Government,  detailed  investigations  are  carried  out  in  such  cases  and disciplinary actions are taken up in accordance with guidelines of Central Vigilance Commission (CVC);  further,  necessary  actions  are  also  taken  up  towards  execution  of  rectifications  / corrective works as per the provisions of the Contract / Concession Agreements.

The  details  of  the  complaints  along  with  the  action  taken  by  the  Ministry regarding  the  corruptions  in  implementation  of  NHs  works  and  their  maintenance  is  being compiled and the same shall be laid on the Table of the House.

(e) and (f) Works on NHs are executed duly following the specifications and standards laid down  by  the  Ministry.  Concerned  Executing  Agencies  [viz.  National  Highways  Authority  of India (NHAI), National  Highways and Infrastructure Development  Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Border Roads Organisation (BRO),  State Governments / Union Territories (UTs), etc.] and the Consultants appointed (if any) are responsible for ensuring adherence to stipulated quality control and quality assurance requirements of materials as well as works. The Officers of the Ministry and various Executing Agencies (viz. NHAI, NHIDCL, BRO, State Governments / UTs, etc.)also inspect the works from time to time to ensure conformity with such stipulations. Deficiencies observed, if any, during such examinations / inspections are brought to the notice of the Concessionaires / Contractors for corrective measures. In case of any defaults, actions against the defaulting agencies are taken up as per the provisions of agreements.

Various  initiatives  taken  towards  prevention of corruption  and  bringing  in  more transparency and accountability in highway sector include adoption of Integrity Pact, engagement of National Level Project Monitors (NLPMs)  for conducting Independent Quality Audit on the ongoing NHs projects to act as a third party independent body to carry out quality audit  of  various  projects  over  and  above  monitoring  of  quality  of  road  independently  by Supervision Consultant/Independent Consultant/Authority Engineer/Officers of the Ministry/NHAI / NHIDCL / BRO / State Governments / UTs, etc.

CVC is already involved in the process of technical examination of NHs projects. This Ministry  has  no  proposal  to  recommend  establishing  any  separate  agency  under  CVC  to crosscheck the NHs works and its maintenance.

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