Lok Sabha Question No. 522 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Impact of Road Maintenance on Public Safety
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Charanjit Singh Channi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 522

ANSWERED ON 6 TH  February, 2025

## IMPACT OF ROAD MAINTENANCE ON PUBLIC SAFETY

522.  SHRI CHARANJIT SINGH CHANNI:

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

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the poor condition of roads in Jalandhar has led to an increase  in  accidents  and  public  grievances,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government proposes to collaborate with the State Government to implement long-term solutions for road maintenance and development, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  plans  to  introduce  stricter  monitoring mechanisms to ensure the timely repair and upkeep of urban roads, if so, the details thereof; and
- (d)  the  funds  allocated  and  disbursed  for  road  repairs  in  Punjab during the past three years and their utilization status, year-wise?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a)  to  (c)  The  Government  in  the  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  and Highways is primarily responsible for development and Maintenance of  National Highways (NHs).    All efforts have been made to keep the NHs in Jalandhar in traffic worthy condition. National Highways

Authority of India (NHAI) has taken up major rectification works on NH-44  in  Panipat-Jalandhar  section  at  a  cost  of  Rs.485  crore; construction  of  LVUP  near  Dakoha  railway  crossing  in  Jalandhar City on NH-44 at km 370.100 including entry/exit and other related works  at a cost of Rs. 14.30 crore and completed in February, 2023. NHAI has also taken up construction of Six-lane Jalandhar Bypass starting from Jalandhar-Amritsar (NH-3) with interchanges at Jalandhar-Pathankot (NH-44), Jalandhar-Hoshiarpur (NH-3), Jalandhar-Ludhiana  (NH-44)  and  ending  at  Jalandhar-Moga  section of  NH-703  inter-alia  for  decongesting  Jalandhar  city  traffic  to  a great extent.

The development and maintenance of State roads in Jalandhar City including urban roads is the responsibility of State Government of Punjab.

Development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process.  The condition of NHs is assessed from time to time by the Government in the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways and its various  executing  agencies  such  as  NHAI,  National  Highways  & Infrastructure  Development  Corporation  Limited  (NHIDCL),  Border Roads Organization (BRO), Public Works Departments (PWDs)/ Road Construction Departments (RCDs)/ Corporations of State Governments/ Union Territories(UTs). The development and maintenance  works  on  NHs  including  NHs  passing  through  urban areas are accordingly taken up from time to time as per condition of road,  inter-se  priority  and  availability  of  funds  to  keep  the  NHs  in traffic worthy condition.

The Maintenance & Repair (M&R) of stretches of NHs including NHs passing through urban areas, where either Development works have  commenced  or  Operation,  Maintenance  and  Transfer  (OMT) Concessions/  Operation  and  Maintenance  (O&M)  Contracts  have been awarded, are the responsibility of the concerned Concessionaires/  Contractors  till  the  Defect  Liability  Period  (DLP)/ the Concession Period.

Network  Survey  Vehicle  (NSV)  technology  is  used  to  ensure adequacy  of  completed  development  works  on  NHs  and  timely repair and maintenance of NHs. Also, NHAI assesses the condition

(identification of defects i.e. potholes, damaged roads, etc.) of NHs and  monitor  the  status  of  rectification  of  these  defects  within specified timeline through NHAI One App as per provisions stipulated  in  the  Concession  /  Contract  Agreements  (CA)  of  NHs projects. Further, penal actions are taken up as per the provisions of CA  on  account  of  failures on  part of  the  Concessionaire/ Contractor to rectify the defect within stipulated timeline.

Government  holds  regular  review  meetings  at  various  levels with State Governments, executing agencies to ensure taking up of corrective actions and completion of NHs projects.

(d) Details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred for development and maintenance of NHs in the State of Punjab during the last three years is as under:

| Year    | Fund allocated / expenditure incurred (Rs in crore)   |
|---------|-------------------------------------------------------|
| 2021-22 | 7,179                                                 |
| 2022-23 | 10,093                                                |
| 2023-24 | 12,419                                                |

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