Lok Sabha Question No. 160 (STARRED), answered on 2024-12-05
Subject: Road Safety on National Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Bidyut Baran Mahato

be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  steps  being  taken  to  enhance  road  safety  measures  on  National Highways in Jharkhand, including the installation of traffic signals, signages, and accident-prone zone identification signs;
- (b) the manner in which the Government would ensure the timely maintenance  and  repair  of  roads  in  Jharkhand,  especially  in  Jamshedpur during and after the monsoon season when road conditions often worsen due to heavy rains; and
- (c)  whether  there  is  any  focus  on  improving  the  infrastructure  for  public transport,  such  as  the  construction  of  bus  terminals  and  safe  passenger waiting areas, to enhance travel experience for both locals and tourists in Jharkhand, if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

(a) to (c) A Statement is laid on Table of the House.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 160 ANSWERED ON 5 TH  DECEMBER, 2024

## ROAD SAFETY ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

*160.  SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO :

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## STATEMENT

- STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 160 TO BE ANSWERED ON 5 TH  DECEMBER, 2024, ASKED  BY  SHRI  BIDYUT  BARAN  MAHATO  REGARDING  ROAD  SAFETY  ON NATIONAL HIGHWAYS (a)  Government in the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) is primarily responsible for development, maintenance and construction of National Highways (NHs) in the country.  Requirement of road safety is taken care of in all stages of project  cycle,  i.e.,  design,  construction,  operation  and  maintenance.   Road  safety audit is carried out at the design stage of NH improvement and upgradation projects to  ensure  that  design  meet  the  safety  standards.   During  construction  stage, construction zone safety measures are provided for safe movement of traffic.  During the operation stage, road safety audit is periodically carried out to ensure that the road safety measures as originally provided are in proper shape and to assess additional requirement of safety measures, if any. Government  has  classified  certain  sections  of  NHs  as  accident  black  spots considering the number of accidents involving fatalities and grievous injuries in a block period of 3 continuous calendar years.  After detailed investigation, certain short/long term measures are provided to prevent recurrence of accidents at these locations.  The  safety  measures  provided  on  NHs  include  road  marking,  signages, crash  barriers,  raised  pavement  markers,  delineators,  closure  of  unauthorized median openings, traffic calming measures, etc. apart from long term measures like improvement of road geometrics, junction improvement, spot widening of carriageway,  construction  of  underpasses/overpasses,  etc.  These  measures  are being provided on all NHs including those in the State of Jharkhand. (b)      Maintenance  of  NHs  is  a  continuous  process  taken  up  to  keep  the  NHs  in traffic worthy condition. Maintenance works are carried out by contractor/concessionaire of ongoing NH development projects during construction/operation/defect  liability  period  or  through  maintenance  contracts such as Performance Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) and Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC), etc. Maintenance of NHs following these guidelines are carried out throughout the country including the State of Jharkhand.  NH No. 18 and  49  pass  through  Jamshedpur  and  these  NHs  are  being  maintained  in  traffic worthy condition. (c)    The State Transport Undertakings and Transport Corporations/ Local Municipal Bodies  undertake  construction  and  maintenance  of  bus  stops  and  bus  terminals. Bus bays and bus shelters are also provided on National Highways. These facilities are provided in all States including Jharkhand. Further,  under  the  scheme  "Central  assistance  for  strengthening  the  ITS  in Public Transport System in the Country", the Central Government provides  financial support for development and implementation of advanced Information and

Communication Technology (ICT) and Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in buses being  operated  by  State  Road  Transport  Undertakings(SRTUs)/State  Transport Undertakings  (STUs)/  State  Transport  Corporations  (STCs).  However,  no  proposal has been received from State of Jharkhand under the said scheme. Under the Scheme 'Development, Customization, Deployment and Management of  State-wise  Vehicle  Tracking  Platform  for  safety  and  Enforcement  with  AIS-140 specification', in States/UTs under Nirbhaya Framework, the Government supports the  States/UTs  to  implement  the  project  by  providing  funds  under  the  Nirbhaya Framework  for  setting  up  of  Monitoring/  Command  &  Control  Centre  in  each State/UT  for  tracking  the  Public  Service  vehicles  (PSVs)  fitted  with  VLTD  and Emergency  button,  monitoring  the  alerts  in  case  of  emergency  and  coordinating with  State  Emergency  Response  Support  system  (ERSS)  for  responding  to  the distress calls.

- ****