Lok Sabha Question No. 956 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-02-08
Subject: Assessment of Defects in Road Design
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Vinod Chavda

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 956

ANSWERED ON 08 TH  FEBRUARY, 2024

## ASSESSMENT OF DEFECTS IN ROAD DESIGN

956.  SHRI VINOD L. CHAVDA:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a)      whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  survey  or  study regarding sharp turns, pot holes, steep grades, narrow streets, single lane  or  other  accident  prone  points  and  the  need  for  service  roads, overbridges and underpasses generally on National Highways in Gujarat particularly  in  Bhuj,  Abdasa,  Gandhidham,  Rapar,  Mandevi  and  Anjar districts and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b)      the  details  of  corrective  steps  taken/proposed  to  make  the National  Highways  safe  for  the  travellers  and  if  not,  the  reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) & (b) Design, construction and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) are carried out as per Indian Roads Congress (IRC)

standards/guidelines, directions issued by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH), relevant international standards and good industry practices. Road safety audit is conducted at various stages of project implementation  like  project  preparation,  construction  and  operation following  IRC  Codes/  guidelines.  Road  side  environment  and  traffic conditions also change over a period due to regional socio-economic developments necessitating further corrective measures. During project preparation and further during road safety audit, deficiencies  such  as  sharp  turns,  potholes,  steep  gradients,  narrow lanes, single lanes, accident prone points and upgradation requirements such as service roads, over bridges and underpasses impacting safety of  road  users  are  identified  and  necessary  corrective  measures  are taken.  Ministry  and  its  executing  agencies  follow  standard  bidding documents  such  as  (i)  Engineering  Procurement  Contract  (EPC)  (ii) Hybrid Annuity Mode Concession Agreement and (iii) BOT (Toll/Annuity) Concession Agreement. Such contract/concession agreements have provisions making safety audit at design stage, during construction, before opening to traffic and during operations obligatory on  the  part  of  contractors/concessionaires  followed  by  necessary corrective measures which are followed in all NH projects. Standalone road safety works are also undertaken during operation stage of a NH section  as  per  requirements.  Apart  from  this,  regular  repair  and maintenance activities are carried out to keep the NHs pothole free and in traffic worthy condition.

Details of corrective measures taken up during last 5 years in Bhuj, Abdasa, Gandhidham, Rapar, Mandvi and Anjar in Kachchh district of Gujarat for road safety improvement as part of the widening/ upgradation works and on standalone basis are given below:

| District   | NH Stretch                                                   | Status               |
|------------|--------------------------------------------------------------|----------------------|
| GUJARAT    |                                                              |                      |
| Kutch      | Bhuj- Khavda- Dharamshala section of NH-341                  | Completed            |
| Kutch      | Lakhpat- Hajipir- Dholavira- Santalpur of section of NH-754K | Under implementation |
| Kutch      | Mandavi Bypass on NH-41                                      | Under implementation |
| Kutch      | Mandavi-Narayan Sarovar section of NH-41                     | Under implementation |
| Kutch      | Gandhidham-Kandla-Mundra section of NH-8A (Extn).            | Completed            |
| Kutch      | Samakhiyali-Gandhidham section of NH-41.                     | Completed            |
| Kutch      | Santalpur Samakhiyali Section of NH-27                       | Under implementation |
| Kutch      | Bhimasar-Anjar-Bhuj NH-341.                                  | Under implementation |

*****