Lok Sabha Question No. 5480 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-25
Subject: Tanakpur-Pithoragarh NH Project
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Tamta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.5480 ANSWERED ON 25 TH  JULY, 2019

## TANAKPUR-PITHORAGARH NH PROJECT

## 5480.   SHRI AJAY TAMTA:

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

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether all weather under construction National Highway-09 from Tanakpur to Pithoragarh is being obstructed due to debris/landslide with the onset of monsoons and resulting in long jam thereby causing grave travel inconvenience to the local people and sick persons;
- (b) if  so,  the  remedial measures taken/ being taken by the Government/NHAI to address the issue;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to inspect/audit the quality of road construction work through  some  prestigious  agency  like  I.I.T.  Roorkee  in  view  of  the  alleged  irregularities therein particularly in the work of cutting of mountains on the said NH resulting in loosening of rocks even during light rains thereby causing heavy loss of life and property during the last few years;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if  not,  the  other  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  prevent  irregularities  and ensure quality check in the execution of construction work on the said NH?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) Yes  Sir.  The  National  Highway-  09  from  Tanakpur  to  Pithoragarh  is  vulnerable  for obstruction due to debris/landslide during monsoon. However, whenever such obstruction takes place, the same is cleared on priority to maintain the road in traffic worthy condition.
- (b) In order to clear obstruction of the project road caused due to debris/landslide, adequate numbers  of  equipment  have  been  deployed  at  nearby  area  of  landslide  prone  zones  so  that hindrances are cleared at the earliest possible time. As a long term remedial measures , total 25 places of landslide prone areas are identified and special landslide protection works have been taken up.

(c)  to  (e)  The  work  on  this  NH  is  being  implemented  on  Engineering,  Procurement  and Construction (EPC) mode of contract by State PWD, Uttarakhand. For EPC projects, the contractor is  primarily  responsible  for  design and construction of the road project through proper quality control measures. For this, the EPC contractor shall appoint design consultant for design of the road project, proof consultant for proof checking of the design and safety consultant for safety audit of the project road at the design stage. Further, Authority's Engineer comprising a team of qualified and professional experts have been appointed for day-to-day supervision and monitoring of the construction works, which includes monitoring of quality control of the works as required under the contract agreement. The design and drawings submitted by the contractor after due proof checking and safety audit is being  reviewed by the Authority's Engineer before execution of the road project. However, in certain special cases, the services of IITs and NITs are obtained for proof checking of the design done by the contractor. The contractor is directly responsible for ensuring quality of the work as well as rectification of any defect and maintenance of the project stretch for a period of 4 years after completion.

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