Lok Sabha Question No. 5312 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-04-03
Subject: Road Networks
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Amol Ramsing Kolhe, Shri Mohite Patil Dhairyasheel Rajsinh, Smt. Supriya Sule, Shri Sanjay Dina Patil, Prof. Varsha Eknath Gaikwad, Shri Nilesh Dnyandev Lanke, Shri Bhaskar Murlidhar Bhagare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 5312 ANSWERED ON 03 RD  APRIL, 2025

## ROAD NETWORKS

## 5312.  SHRI MOHITE PATIL DHAIRYASHEEL RAJSINH:

DR. AMOL RAMSING KOLHE:

SHRI BHASKAR MURLIDHAR BHAGARE:

SHRI SANJAY DINA PATIL:

PROF. VARSHA EKNATH GAIKWAD:

SHRI NILESH DNYANDEV LANKE:

SMT. SUPRIYA SULE:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the total length of road networks in the country as of the latest available data and the comparative figure for ten years ago;
- (b) the total length of National Highways/State Highways/rural roads added in the country during the past ten years;
- (c) the key projects contributing to road network expansion and the challenges faced in the implementation of road development projects in Maharashtra and the steps taken to address them;
- (d) the funds allocated and utilized for road infrastructure development in Maharashtra during the said period;
- (e)  the  total  length  of  National  Highways  in  Maharashtra  and  the percentage increase over the last ten years;
- (f)  the  number  of  new  expressways  and  major  highway  projects sanctioned for Maharashtra during this period;
- (g) the status of major road infrastructure projects under implementation in Maharashtra;
- (h) the details of road expansion projects undertaken in Maharashtra including the length of roads constructed or upgraded in the State; and
- (i)  the  specific  increase  in  road  length  in  Maharashtra  and  the manner in which it compares with other major States?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) and (b) As per the latest available report, Road network including National Highways/State Highways/rural roads in India has increased  from  about  54,02,486  km  in  March,  2014  to  about 63,31,791  km  in  March,  2019.  National  Highways  (NH)  network length in the country has increased from 91,287 km in March, 2014 to 1,46,204 km at present.
- (c) At  present,  135  NHs  projects  in  2,944  km  length  costing ₹72,437 Crore are under construction in the State of  Maharashtra, out  of  which  1,928  km  length  is  completed.  These  projects  are under various  stages  of  construction  with  completion  in  a  phased manner by FY 2027-28.

Key  projects  taken  up  in  the  State  of  Maharashtra  include Corridor, Vadape  to  Thane  section  of  NH-3  near  NH-848,  Elevated  Nashik Phata  -  Khed  Corridor  near  Pune,  Access  controlled  Corridor  from

Delhi -Mumbai  Expressway, Solapur-Kurnool-Chennai JNPT Port (Pagote) to Chowk, etc.

Challenges  in project implementation  are  mainly  of land acquisition,  encroachment  removal,  law  &  order,  utility  shifting, non-availability of soil/aggregate, environment/forest/wildlife clearances, construction of Road Over Bridge (ROB) & Road Under Bridge (RUB) issues, contractual issues, etc.

The  Government  has  taken  number  of  steps  to  expedite  the completion  of  projects  in the  country, including the State of Maharashtra. These include:-

- i. Project planning including preparation of DPR mandated on PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan (NMP) Portal
- ii. Award projects after adequate preparation in terms of Land Acquisition (LA) and preconstruction activities
- iii. Streamlining LA process & environment clearances
- iv. Simplified procedure for approval of GAD (General Arrangement Drawing) by Railways
- v. Promotion  of  Contractor's  Ecosystem  by  rationalising  the projects and contract documents
- vi. Revamped dispute resolution mechanism
- vii. Relaxations in contract provisions under "Atmanirbhar Bharat" to improve liquidity of funds
8. viii.
9. Periodic review of projects at various levels
10. (d) Government has incurred expenditure of ₹  1.6 Lakh Crore on development and maintenance of NHs in the State of Maharashtra since April, 2014.
11. (e) Length of NHs in the State of Maharashtra has increased from 6,249 km in March, 2014 to 18,462 km at present.
12. (f) 17,138 km length of NHs projects, including National Expressways, have been awarded in the State of Maharashtra since April, 2014.
13. (g) and (h) Status of NHs projects under construction in the State of Maharashtra  along  with  length  completed  has  been  indicated  in reply to Part (c).
14. (i). Length of NHs in the State of Maharashtra has increased from 6,249 km in March, 2014 to 18,462 km at present and NH network length in the country has increased from 91,287 km to 1,46,204 km during the same period.

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