opensansad/lok-sabha-qa huggingface dataset:
Lok Sabha Question No. 1910 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Bharatmala Pariyojana
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: S. Venkatesan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1910 ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA

## 1910. SHRI S. VENKATESAN:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the revised cost of the projects under Bharatmala Pariyojana;
- (b) the details of channels used for augmenting finance for the above projects and proportion of each channel;
- (c) the  share  of  LIC  of  India  for  augmenting  finance  for  the  same during the last five financial years;
- (d) whether  LIC  of  India  would  contribute  Rs.  1.24  Lakh  crores  by 2024; and
- (e) if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  projects  for  which  LIC funds are used?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)     The revised cost of Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I is 10.95 lakh crore as appraised by Public Investment Board (PIB).
- (b)      Funds  for  development  of  highways  are  provided  by  the Government  through  budgetary  allocation  and  approval  to  NHAI  for borrowing  under  Internal  and  Extra  Budgetary  Resources  (IEBR). Additionally,  NHAI  mobilizes  resources  through  Asset  monetization. These  borrowing  are  used  for  projects  other  than  Bharatmala  also. Year-wise breakup of borrowing in last 5 years is Annexed.
- (c)     The borrowings from LIC during last 5 year is Rs. 10,309 crore.
- (d) & (e) The borrowings of fund by NHAI have been discontinued.

ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PART  (b)  OF  LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1910 ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023 ASKED BY SHRI S. VENKATESAN REGARDING BHARATMALA PARIYOJANA

The details of borrowing made during last 5 years is as under:

(Rs. in Crore)

| FY      | Amount (Principal)   |
|---------|----------------------|
| 2018-19 | 61,217               |
| 2019-20 | 74,987               |
| 2020-21 | 65,080               |
| 2021-22 | 76,150               |
| 2022-23 | 798*                 |

* NHAI has raised only Rs.798 crore through 54EC bonds in FY 2022-23.

Further there is no IEBR for FY 2023-24 onwards.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1909 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Oil and Gas Import Bills
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Shankar Lalwani, Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Himadri Singh, Prathap Simha, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Janardan Mishra, Pushpendra Singh Chandel

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1909 TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 th  December 2023

## Oil and Gas Import Bills

## 1909.  SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL:

SHRIMATI HIMADRI SINGH:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

## पेोिलयम और ाक ृ ितक गैस मंी

## Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is a fact that India's Oil and Gas import bills have witnessed a notable decline in fiscal year 2024;
- (b) if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) the efforts being made by the Government to sensitize oil supplying nations to the needs of oil consuming nations like India?

## ANSWER

## पेोिलयम और ाक ृ ितक गैस मंालय म राय मंी ( ी रामेर तेली ) MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI)

- (a) to (b) Yes Sir, Provisionally Import of Crude Oil and Liquefied Natural Gas during the current FY:2023-24 (April-October) is ` 6,86,377 crore which has shown a decline of 22.5% with respect to corresponding period of the last year ( ` 8,85,327 crore).
- (c) Government of India has been actively engaged in energy diplomacy with oil supplying nations to  safeguard  the  energy  security  of  the  country  as  well  as  raising  voice  for  all  oil consuming countries of Global South for responsible pricing and stabilizing the  global  oil market.  India  has  consistently  raised  concerns  about  high  oil  prices  through  bilateral discussions and on various international platforms, including ministerial and senior officials' meetings. India has also actively participated in discussions with influential bodies like the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Energy Forum (IEF).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1908 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Effect of 5G Mobile Communications on Flight Operations
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: M V V Satyanarayana

## (a) & (b) : No, Sir

India, is neither the State of Design nor the State of Manufacture of aircraft/ systems/ items of equipment operating in the country. Therefore, Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) does not have the design details of the aircraft/ equipment and is not in a position to conduct any studies on the potential effect of 5G signals on safe aircraft operations.

However, DGCA has reviewed the studies/ actions undertaken by various countries during the launch of 5G on the potential interference of 5G C-band signals on Radio Altimeters installed on the aircraft and risk involved in air travel.

The above review has shown that there is a likelihood of interference in the functioning of Radio Altimeter installed on aircraft due to C-band 5G signals which can affect vital aircraft systems and can lead to unsafe aircraft operations especially during landing phase.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1908

(To be answered on the 14 th  December 2023)

## EFFECT OF 5G MOBILE COMMUNICATIONS ON FLIGHT

## OPERATIONS

## Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

1908.

SHRI M.V.V. SATYANARAYANA

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the Government has conducted any study to assess the effects of
- 5G network on Airline services in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c)  whether  the  Government has proposed to enable safe and efficient
- implementation of 5G mobile communications services without interference in civil aviation operations; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

(c) & (d) : 5G C-band spectrum has the likelihood of interfering with the current Radio Altimeters installed on the aircraft. In order to minimise the interference, manufacturers of Radio Altimeters are working on developing modified Radio Altimeters. World over mitigation measures have been adopted and similar mitigation measures have been mandated in India and accordingly, Telecommunication Service Providers (TSPs) have been advised to ensure the following while placing 5G towers in the vicinity of airports:

1. Establishing safety and buffer zones in the vicinity of airports, 2. Restricting power levels of C-Band 5G transmissions around the airports, and 3. Tilt of 5G base stations to an extent such that the 5G emissions do not interfere with Radio Altimeters.

- *****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1903 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Increase in Share of Natural Gas
Ministry: PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS
Asked by: Vijayakumar (alias) Vijay Vasanth

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 1903

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## Increase in Share of Natural Gas

## 1903. SHRI VIJAYAKUMAR (ALIAS) VIJAYVASANTH:

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंी

Will the Minister of PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  it  is  true  that  India  aims  to  raise  theshare  of  natural  gas  in  its  energy  mix  to fifteen percent by 2030 from about 6.2 per cent now;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  it  is  a  fact  that  Indian  companiestogether  currently  hold  two  billion  cubic metersofgas in pipelines and liquefied natural gas tanks forcommercial use; and (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## पेोलयम और ाक ृ तक गैस मंालय म रायमंी ( ी रामेवर तेल )

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PETROLEUM AND NATURAL GAS (SHRI RAMESWAR TELI))

(a) &(b) Presently in India the share of natural gas in energy basket is 6.7%. The Government has set a target to raise the share of natural gas in energy mix to 15% in 2030. Various steps taken by the Government in this direction include expansion of National Gas Grid Pipeline, expansion  of  City  Gas  Distribution  (CGD)  network,  setting  up  of  Liquefied  Natural  Gas (LNG) Terminals, allocation of domestic gas to Compressed Natural Gas (Transport) / Piped Natural Gas (Domestic) CNG(T)/PNG(D) in no cut category, allowing marketing and pricing freedom with a ceiling price to gas produced from high pressure/high temperature areas, deep water & ultra-deep water and from coal seams, Sustainable Alternative Towards Affordable Transportation (SATAT) initiative to promote Bio-CNG, etc.

With the aim to create a National Gas Grid (One Nation, One Gas Grid) and increase the availability of natural gas across the country, PNGRB has authorised approximately 33,622 km  natural  gas  pipeline  network  across  the  country  out  of  which  24,623  km  natural  gas pipeline  including  spur  lines,  tie-in  connectivity,  Sub-Transmission  Pipelines  (STPL)  and dedicated pipelines are already operational and a total of 10,860 km length of pipelines is under various stages of construction.

Further,  PNGRB  has  implemented  Unified  Tariff  with  effect  from  01.04.2023  for  the interconnected natural gas pipelines with an objective of 'One Nation, One Grid and One

Tariff'. To simplify the implementation of Unified Tariff, entity level integrated natural gas pipeline tariff has been introduced in the Regulations. Further, to protect the overall interest of consumers in different regions number of unified tariff zones have been increased from two to three.

(c) & (d) The authorized capacity of Natural Gas Pipelines in India is 915.32 MMSCMD and the  total  tank  capacity  of  existing  LNG  terminals  in  India  is  3,203,830  cubic  metres.  The quantity  of  natural  gas  transmitted  through  these  pipelines  vary  depending  upon  the availability and consumption of gas at the supply and demand centres connected by them.

****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1902 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Wind Solar Hybrid Policy
Ministry: NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY
Asked by: Lallu Singh, Sudarshan Bhagat, Rajesh Verma, Satya Pal Singh, Dharmendra Kumar Kashyap, Tirath Singh Rawat, Hasmukhbhai Somabhai Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1902

ANSWERED ON 14/12/2023

## WIND SOLAR HYBRID POLICY

1902. SHRI LALLU SINGH SHRI SUDARSHAN BHAGAT SHRI TIRATH SINGH RAWAT SHRI RAJESH VERMA DR. SATYAPAL SINGH SHRI PATEL HASMUKHBHAI SOMABHAI SHRI DHARMENDRA KASHYAP

Will the Minister of NEW AND RENEWABLE ENERGY be pleased to state:

- (a) the aims of Wind Solar Hybrid policy;
- (b) the key features of this policy; and

(c) whether any projects are being implemented under the Scheme, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY AND POWER

## (SHRI R.K. SINGH)

(a)  Government  issued  National  Wind-Solar  Hybrid  Policy  on  14th  May,  2018.  The  main objective of the policy is to provide a framework for promotion of large grid connected windsolar  PV  hybrid  system  for  optimal  and  efficient  utilization  of  wind  and  solar  resources, transmission  infrastructure  and  land.  The  policy  also  aims  to  encourage  new  technologies, methods and way-outs involving combined operation of wind and solar PV plants.

- (b) The key features of National Wind-Solar Hybrid Policy inter alia include the following;
- (1)  In case of fixed speed wind turbines connected to grid using an induction generator, the integration can be on the HT side at the AC output bus. However, in case of variable speed wind turbines deploying inverters for connecting the generator to the grid, the wind and the Solar PV system can be connected to the intermediate DC bus of the AC-DC-AC converter.
- (2) The sizing of the wind-solar hybrid plants would depend on the resource characteristics. However, a wind-solar plant will be recognized as hybrid plant if the rated power capacity of one resource is at least 25% of the rated power capacity of other resource.
- (3)  Existing  wind  or  solar  power  projects,  willing  to  install  solar  PV  plant  or  WTGs respectively to avail benefit of hybrid project are conditionally allowed to do so under the policy.
- (4) Battery storage may be added to the hybrid project (i) to reduce the variability of output power from wind solar hybrid plant; (ii) providing higher energy output for a given capacity

(bid/ sanctioned capacity) at delivery point, by installing additional capacity of wind and solar power in a wind solar hybrid plant; and (iii) ensuring availability of firm power for a particular period (c) The Renewable Energy Implementing Agencies (REIAs), viz. Solar Energy Corporation of Wind Hybrid Projects, Solar-Wind Hybrid Projects with assured supply during peak hours and Round the  Clock  (RTC)  renewable  Power.  As  on  30.11.2022,  around  1.44  GW  of  hybrid

India Ltd. (SECI), NTPC Ltd., SJVN Ltd. and NHPC Ltd. have brought out tenders, viz. Solarprojects are already commissioned.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1895 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Demolition of Madrasa
Ministry: MINORITY AFFAIRS
Asked by: Abdul Khaleque

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF MINORITY AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1895

## ANSWERED ON 14.12.2023

## DEMOLITION OF MADRASA

1895. SHRI ABDUL KHALEQUE:

Will the Minister of MINORITY AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Minority Commission received any complaint regarding the demolition of a madrasa at Kabaitary of Bongaigaon district in Assam in August 2022;

(b)  if  so,  whether  the  commission  examined  the  complaint  on  its  own  or  did  according  to Report submitted by the State Government and if so, the details thereof;

(c)  whether  there  is  an  angle  of  terrorism  involved  in  terms  of  recovery  of  arms  or involvement of the arrested person with any terrorist organisation; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF MINORITY AFFAIRS (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

(a) to (d): Yes Sir. The National Commission for Minorities (NCM)  received a communication  dated  05.09.2022   from  Hon'ble  MP,  Lok  Sabha,  Shri  Abdul  Khaleque, regarding  the  demolition  of  Madrasa  at  Kabaitary,  Bongaigaon  district  in  Assam.  The Commission exercised  its  jurisdiction  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  NCM  Act, 1992 and sought a status report from Government of Assam in the matter.

The report of the Government of Assam states that the structures at the Madrasa were found  to  be  hazardous  to  public  and  unsafe  for  human  habitation.  The  structures  were demolished under Section 26(2) of Disaster Management Act, 2005 read with Sections 34(C), 34(K) and 34(M) of the said Act. Further, according to information from Goalpara Police, one of the Assistant teachers of the said Madrasa was arrested in connection with Case No. 105/2022 under Section 121/121(A)/ 120(B) Indian Penal Code read with Section 18/ 18(B)/ 19/ 20 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Sufficient evidence has been collected of his  involvement  with  anti-national  elements,  namely  ABT  (Ansarullah  Bangla  Team) affiliated with AQIS (Al-Qaeda in the Indian Sub-continent).

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1893 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Innovation in Urban Development
Ministry: HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS
Asked by: Pushpendra Singh Chandel, Sunil Baburao Mendhe, Shankar Lalwani, Bharatiben Dhirubhai Shyal, Bholanath (B.P. Saroj), Gopal Jee Thakur, Prathap Simha, Pradeep Kumar Singh, Janardan Mishra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1893 TO BE ANSWERED ON DECEMBER 14, 2023 INNOVATION IN URBAN DEVELOPMENT

NO. 1893.  SHRI KUNWAR PUSHPENDRA SINGH CHANDEL:

SHRI SUNIL BABURAO MENDHE:

SHRI SHANKAR LALWANI:

DR. BHARATIBEN DHIRUBHAI SHIYAL:

SHRI BHOLANATH (B.P. SAROJ):

SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:

SHRI PRATHAP SIMHA:

SHRI PRADEEP KUMAR SINGH:

SHRI JANARDAN MISHRA:

Will the Minister for HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government proposes to integrate start-ups and technological innovation in Urban Development; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOUSING AND URBAN AFFAIRS (SHRI KAUSHAL KISHORE)

- (a) & (b) : The Government of India has incorporated the startups and technological  interventions  in  the  Urban  development.  The  Technology has been used effectively in management of various urban services such as Water supply management, Solid Waste Management etc. Integrated Traffic Management Systems (ITMS) have been deployed across various smart cities to monitor and manage the city traffic.

In  this  regard,  M/o  Housing  and  Urban  Affairs  has  incorporated  the startups  and  technological  interventions  in  Smart  City  Mission,  Swachh Bharat  Mission  (U)  and  AMRUT.  The  incorporation  of  startups  and technological intervention has made  constant efforts to popularize innovative solutions as replicable models by publishing a repository of use cases and solutions across the cities on the websites, creating compendiums  and  documents  on  best  practices,  publishing  successful data stories on the India Urban Data Exchange (IUDX) platform.

The engagement between startups & technological intervention is driven through the Smart Procure Guidelines, which is a progressive process for adoption of innovative startup solutions. The Guidelines have been found progressive  and  its  features  have  been  adopted  by  Gujarat  Urja  Vikas Nigam Limited as well.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1890 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Flyover at Umbraj
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shriniwas Dadasaheb Patil

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1890 ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## FLYOVER AT UMBRAJ

1890. SHRI SHRINIWAS PATIL:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has received a proposal for construction of a  new segmental flyover at Umbraj, tehsil Karad, Distt. Satara on Satara-Kagal section of National Highway-48 (Old NH-4) in place of the old solid filled embankment bridge; and
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the present status of the proposal and the action taken by the Government?

ANSWER

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

- (a) & (b)     Yes Sir. The matter was examined and construction of flyover was not found viable.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1885 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Highway Projects in Gujarat
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Rajeshbhai Naranbhai Chudasama

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

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1885 ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

HIGHWAY PROJECTS IN GUJARAT

1885.     SHRI RAJESHBHAI CHUDASAMA:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of various large scale development highway projects undertaken  in  Gujarat  including  the  details  of  the  funds  spent  on these projects during the last five years; and
- (b) the details of the status of the highway projects undertaken in Gujarat including the time by which the ongoing projects would be completed?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b) The development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) is a continuous process. Improvement and up-gradation of NHs are taken up from time to time as per traffic demand, inter-se priority and availability of funds to keep the NHs in traffic worthy conditions. 116 works in a length of 2233 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 39,589 Crore  were  sanctioned  in  the  state  of  Gujarat  during  the  last  five years, out of which 67 works in a length of 1558 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 34,514 crore are on-going with completion period of 2 to 3 years.

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1882 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Guidelines to Airline Operators
Ministry: CIVIL AVIATION
Asked by: A.K.P. Chinraj

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA

UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 1882 (To be answered on the 14 th  December 2023)

## GUIDELINES TO AIRLINE OPERATORS

## 1882. SHRI A.K.P. CHINRAJ

Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

- (a) whether the DGCA considers to issue guidelines to Airline Operators to make inflight safety announcements in all languages specified in 8th Schedule of the Constitution and if so, the details thereof; and
- (b) the name written at the front wall of Terminal 4 and Terminal 1 building of the Chennai Airport?

## ANSWER

Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION

(GEN. (DR) V. K. SINGH (RETD))

- (a): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has been issuing advisories to airline operators from time to time to use regional languages while making inflight announcement, to the extent feasible, other than English and Hindi without compromising on the safety of operations or the core job functions of the crew member.
- DGCA has not issued any specific guidelines to Airline Operators to make inflight safety announcement in all languages specified in 8th Schedule of the Constitution.
- (b):  At  Chennai  Airport,  the  name  at  the  front  wall  of  Terminal  4  is "KAMARAJ DOMESTIC TERMINAL-T4 (trilingual)" and at front wall of Terminal 1 is "KAMARAJ DOMESTIC TERMINAL-T1 (trilingual)".

*****
Lok Sabha Question No. 1880 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-12-14
Subject: Collapse of Bridge
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Mohammad Jawed

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1880

## ANSWERED ON 14 TH  DECEMBER, 2023

## COLLAPSE OF BRIDGE

## 1880. DR. MOHAMMAD JAWED:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for collapse of eleven NHAI bridges in Bihar over the span of three years including NH-327E between Galgaliya in Kishanganj and Araria this year;
- (b) whether the structural design of the bridge mentioned above was faulty and the  materials  used  were  not  as  per  specifications  and  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (c) the steps taken by the department to rectify the shortcomings; and
- (d) the time by which the said bridge would be made available for the public use and the details of action taken against those responsible for this faulty construction?

## ANSWER

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

(a)&(b) No bridge constructed by NHAI has collapsed in last three year in the State of Bihar. However, settlement of 600 mm (approx.) in one pile group/cap of bridge on NH-327E between Galgaliya in Kishanganj and Araria has occurred on 23.06.2023.

An  Expert  committee  has  been  constituted  and  it  was  observed   that  pile integrity or presence of localized loose pockets or cavities of soil below the toe of  group  of  piles  or  combination  thereof  are  the  suspect  areas  leading  to settlement of pile foundation (P3).

(c)&(d)  Rectification  work  is  scheduled  to  be  completed  by  February,  2024. Punitive action was taken against the Concessionaire and Independent Engineer (IE) in this regard.

- *****