Lok Sabha Question No. 1197 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-02-09
Subject: Maintenance of Old Road Infrastructure
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal, Navneet Ravi Rana, Sunil Kumar Pintu, Ramesh Chander Kaushik

## be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  implemented  stringent  measures  to ensure maintenance of old road infrastructure/National Highways (NHs) in  the  districts  of  Amravati  (Maharashtra),  Bhagalpur  and  Sitamarhi (Bihar) and Sonipat (Haryana) and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the funds demanded, allocated, released and utilized for the purpose during the last four years, NH-wise;
- (c) whether the Government proposes to set up a framework/policy to assess the status and life span of each bridge in the country;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether any assessment has been undertaken to ensure road safety standards  and  structural  strength of the highway  infrastructure, particularly the old bridges under the said districts; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1197 ANSWERED ON 09 th  FEBRUARY 2023

## MAINTENANCE OF OLD ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE

1197.  SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR PINTU: SHRI RAMESH CHANDER KAUSHIK:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) Maintenance of National Highways in the country including in the districts of Amravati (Maharashtra), Bhagalpur and Sitamarhi in Bihar and  Sonipat  (Haryana)  is  a  continuous  process.  The  Contractor/BOT concessionaire is responsible for Maintenance and up keep of the NH stretches under defect liability period.

(b) Funds for maintenance of NHs are allocated State/UT- wise and not NH wise. Funds allocated by the Ministry to the States of Maharashtra, Bihar  &  Haryana  including  for  Amravati,  Bhagalpur,  Sitamarhi  and Sonipat districts during the last four years are as under:-

| State          | Name of Agency   | 2021-22   | 2021-22   | 2020-21   | 2020-21   | 2019-20   | 2019-20   | 2018-19   | 2018-19   |
|----------------|------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|                | Name of Agency   | Alloc.    | Expnd.    | Alloc.    | Expnd.    | Alloc.    | Expnd.    | Alloc.    | Expnd.    |
| MaharashtraPWD |                  | 270.81    | 44.81     | 281.53    | 157.14    | 125.25    | 42.48     | 387.90    | 352.83    |
| Bihar          | PWD              | 108.32    | 72.00     | 115.92    | 64.86     | 50.31     | 15.24     | 38.86     | 20.91     |
| Haryana        | PWD              | 3.50      | 0.00      | 3.00      | 0.00      | 0.50      | 0.02      | 0.80      | 0.26      |

(c) to (f) Year of construction/approximate age of a bridge is generally known. Ministry follows a well-established system of inspection/maintenance protocol for periodical assessment of physical condition of bridges. Indian Roads Congress (IRC) has published manual /  detailed  guidelines  for  inspection  and  condition  survey  of  bridges. Ministry has also issued guidelines for this purpose. Bridge inspection is principally carried out using Mobile Bridge Inspection Unit for close access to different critical components of the bridges. Rehabilitation/reconstruction of bridges which are found to be distressed/damaged  are  taken  up  through  Annual  Plan.   Wherever feasible rehabilitation and reconstruction of distressed/damaged bridges are included in the development/widening of NH projects based on out come of condition survey done by DPR consultants.

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