Lok Sabha Question No. 2726 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-03-16
Subject: Condition of National Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Sangeeta Azad

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware that most of the roads/National Highways (NHs) in the country are unsurfaced and not suitable for use of vehicular traffic and their condition is further aggravated due to the poor maintenance, especially in rainy season;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  and  the  reaction  of  the  Government thereto;
- (c) whether NHs suffer from the deficiencies of inadequate capacity, weak pavement, poor riding  quality,  distressed  bridges,  unbridged level  crossings,  congested  cities,  lack  of  by-pass  roads,  lack  of wayside amenities and safety measures etc.; and
- (d) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (d) The Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance  of  National  Highways  (NHs).  The  development  and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process. It is ensured that the NHs  are  in  general  in  surfaced  condition.  The  main  reason  for deficiencies in certain NH stretches are due to inadequate pavement thickness which are mainly on newly notified NHs. The works on such NHs as well as other NHs are taken up from time to time as per inter-

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2726

ANSWERED ON 16 TH  MARCH, 2023

## CONDITION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

2726.  SHRIMATI SANGEETA AZAD:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

se priority, traffic density and availability of funds, to keep the NHs in  traffic  worthy  condition.  These  works  are  carried  out  as  per relevant  Indian  Roads  Congress  (IRC)  Codes  /  Manuals,  Ministry's guidelines, relevant international codes and good industry practices, according highest priority to road safety.

For immediate restoration of damaged NHs stretches including damages in rainy season, various types of Maintenance and Repair (M&R)  works  are  taken  up  which  includes  Ordinary  Repairs  (OR), Periodical Renewals (PR) / Improvement of Riding Quality Programme (IRQP),  Special  Repairs  (SR)  and  Flood  Damage  Repairs  (FDR)  to ensure their traffic worthiness.

The Ministry has undertaken development of about 34,800 km of NHs under the Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I including subsumed National  Highways  Development  Project  (NHDP).  Various  other schemes for development of roads / NHs undertaken by the Ministry are 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), etc.

The Ministry also undertakes development works on other NHs (which are not covered under any specific scheme) under National Highway (Original) [NH(O)] in consultation with State Governments/ UTs  and  other  implementing  agencies  such  as  National  Highways Authority  of  India  (NHAI),  National  Highways  and  Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO). Development of all NHs under above mentioned schemes  invariably  includes  construction  /  upgradation  of  weak bridges,  Road  over  Bridges  (ROBs),  Road  under  Bridges  (RUBs), strengthening of weak pavements and related road safety works, etc.

Decongestion of about 191 choke / congestion points including the development of ring roads in around 28 cities has been identified in various States as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana. Out of these, 58 choke / congestion points have been rectified and works have been taken up / awarded in 86 choke / congestion points.

Works  have  also  been  taken  up  for  development  of  Wayside Amenities (WSAs) along NHs. About 156 nos. of WSA sites have been awarded  so  far,  out  of  which  38  nos.  of  WSA  sites  have  been operationalized.

*****