Lok Sabha Question No. 492 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-02-06
Subject: Quality of Road Constructions
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Dilip Saikia, Shri Lumbaram Choudhary, Smt. Kamlesh Jangde

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the total number of kilometers of National Highways constructed/under construction in the country from 2014 till date;
- (b)  the  percentage  increase  in  the  construction  of  National  Highways during the period from 2014-2024 as compared to 2004-2014;
- (c)  the  current  progress  of  National  Highway  projects  in  the  country, including Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Assam and North-Eastern States;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  issued  any  guidelines  regarding  the construction  of  National  Highways  with  a  focus  on  high  quality  and safety  standards  in  the  country  including  Chhattisgarh  and  if  so,  the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  any  monitoring  mechanism  has  been  established  for ensuring  adherence  to  these  guidelines  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof; and
- (f)  whether  the  Government  proposes  to  connect  Jalore  and  Sirohi districts headquarters in Rajasthan with the National Highway and if so, the details thereof?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO - 492 ANSWERED ON 6 th  FEBRUARY 2025

## QUALITY OF ROAD CONSTRUCTIONS

†492. SMT. KAMLESH JANGDE:

SHRI LUMBA RAM: SHRI DILIP SAIKIA

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) About 1,01,900 km National Highways (NHs) have been constructed/developed since April, 2014 to December, 2024.
- (b) Average annual construction of NHs have increased by about 130% during the period 2014-2024 as compared to 2004-2014.
- (c) Presently 1,366 projects having total length of about 32,366 km are under construction (appointed/commenced) in the entire country, including in the States of Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and all North-Eastern States, without attaining any of the various stages of project completion and excluding projects under consideration for termination / foreclosure.  Most  of  these  projects  are  targeted  to  be  completed  in phases by Financial Year 2028.
- (d)  and  (e) Construction  works  on  NHs  are  carried  out  as  per  the standards including quality and safety standards specified by Government  for  Road  and  Bridge  Works  and  Indian  Roads  Congress (IRC)  codes,  guidelines  and  special  publications.  It  is  the  primary responsibility  of  the  contractor/concessionaire  to  execute  the  works adhering with such specifications and standards.

Also,  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  the  design  meets  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.

To ensure that the works are executed as per prescribed specifications and standards by the contractor / concessionaire, consultants (Authority's Engineer/Independent Engineer) are appointed. Officials  of   executing  agencies  also  carry  out  quality  checks  of  the works  on  random  basis.  In  some  specific  works,   executing  agencies also engage third party quality Auditors. Deficiencies, if any, observed during  such  examination /  inspection  are  brought  to  the  notice  of  the concessionaire / contractor for necessary rectification / reconstruction / replacement. The above procedures are applicable to all NH works in the country including those in Chhattisgarh. (f) Jalore and Sirohi districts' headquarters in the State of Rajasthan are connected with existing NH network (NH-325 & NH-62).

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