Lok Sabha Question No. 2862 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-12
Subject: Damage to National Highways due to Natural Calamities
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Asaduddin Owaisi

## be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  any  National  Highways  suffered  damage  and  closure due to natural disasters like landslides, flooding etc. and if so, the details of damage to National Highways for the past five years, yearwise;
- (b)  the  total  expenditure  undertaken  for  the  reconstruction  of highways  damaged  due  to  natural  disasters  during  the  last  five years, year-wise; and
- (c)  whether  any  studies  have  been  undertaken  to  do  a  threat analysis  of  highways  to  increased  climate  risk,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) Year  -  wise  details  of  reported  damages  that  occurred  on National  Highways  (NHs)  during  the  last five years, including damage  and  closure  due  to  natural disasters like landslides, flooding etc., are as under:-

| Year    | Length of Damaged NHs (in km)   |
|---------|---------------------------------|
| 2019-20 | 6,188                           |
| 2020-21 | 4,919                           |

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2862 ANSWERED ON 12 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

DAMAGE TO NATIONAL HIGHWAYS DUE TO NATURAL CALAMITIES 2862.  SHRI ASADUDDIN OWAISI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

| Year    | Length of Damaged NHs (in km)   |
|---------|---------------------------------|
| 2021-22 | 6,105                           |
| 2022-23 | 5,250                           |
| 2023-24 | 2,718                           |

- (b) Development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process. The conditions of NHs are assessed from time to time by MoRTH and its various executing agencies. The maintenance works on NHs are accordingly taken up from time to time to keep the NHs in  traffic  worthy condition. Reconstruction of damaged sections of NHs is part of overall development works undertaken in the State.

The M&R of stretches of NHs, where 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  end  of  the  Defect  Liability Period  (DLP)/  the  Concession  Period.  Similarly,  for  NHs  stretches undertaken  under  TOT  (Toll Operate  and  Transfer) and InvIT (Infrastructure Investment  Trust), M&R  responsibility lies with concerned Concessionaire till the end of the Concession Period. No separate maintenance expenditure is recorded in respect of these NHs stretches.

For  all  remaining  sections  of  NHs  stretches,  the  Government has prioritized the maintenance and inter-alia evolved a mechanism to ensure M&R of all NHs sections through accountable maintenance agency through Performance based Maintenance Contract  (PBMC)  or  Short  Term  Maintenance  Contract  (STMC). Details  of  expenditure  incurred  by  MoRTH  on  M&R  of  such  NHs stretches,  including  rectification  /  reconstruction  of  NHs  damaged due to natural disasters, during the last five years are as under:-

| Year    | Expenditure (in ₹ Crore)   |
|---------|----------------------------|
| 2019-20 | 3,011                      |
| 2020-21 | 5,948                      |
| 2021-22 | 5,135                      |
| 2022-23 | 6,278                      |
| 2023-24 | 6,523                      |

(c) No specific study has been undertaken to do a threat analysis of highways to increased climate risk. However, aspects of climatic condition,  rainfall,  terrain  type,  soil  category  etc.  are  invariably taken  into  consideration  during  preparation  of  Detailed  Project Report (DPR) for all NH development / upgradation projects.

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