Lok Sabha Question No. 570 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-11-28
Subject: Upkeep and Maintenance of Old Roads/Bridges on National Highways
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Shashank Mani

## be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  any  steps  to  ensure  the upkeep  and  maintenance  of  old  roads  and  bridges  on  National Highways, including in Uttar Pradesh and if so, the details thereof including fund allocations and timelines set for maintenance work;
- (b)  whether the  Government proposes to introduce any monitoring mechanism to ensure the structural integrity of road infrastructure,
- especially for aging bridges and if so, the details thereof; and
- (c) whether there is a system in place for regular safety assessments and audits of bridges and high-traffic roads, particularly in regions prone to adverse weather conditions or heavy loads  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof,  including  the  frequency  of inspections and recent findings thereof?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)      Government  in  the Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways (MoRTH) is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs).

Development  and  maintenance  of  NHs,  including bridges thereon, in the country, including for the State of Uttar Pradesh, is a

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 570

## ANSWERED ON 28 TH  NOVEMBER, 2024

## UPKEEP AND MAINTENANCE OF OLD ROADS/BRIDGES ON

NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

570.  SHRI SHASHANK MANI:

## Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

continuous  process.  The  conditions  of  NHs  including  condition  of bridges 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; such works also include rectification of deficiencies and damages caused due to various reasons, rehabilitation  and  strengthening  of  NHs,  repair  /  rehabilitation  / construction of bridges etc.

The Government has evolved a mechanism to ensure maintenance and Repair (M&R) of all NHs sections including bridges through accountable maintenance agency.

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.

For all remaining sections of NHs stretches, Government has taken  a  policy  decision  to  undertake  maintenance  works  through Performance  based  Maintenance  Contract  (PBMC)  or  Short  Term Maintenance Contract (STMC), leaving no section of NHs without an accountable contractual maintenance agency.

Expenditure of Rs. 3,493 Crore has been incurred upto 31.10.2024 towards M&R of NHs during 2024-25, including Rs. 432 Crore for the State of Uttar Pradesh.

- (b)      Visual  as  well  as  equipment  based  periodical  inspection, evaluation  and  monitoring  has  been  mandated  for  NHs,  including bridges, to ensure that structural integrity of various components of NHs is maintained through timely repair/rehabilitation intervention. Structural health monitoring on real time basis is also carried out in some very important bridges. Government has also initiated Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) for monitoring and maintenance plan of the bridges and other structures on the entire NH network in the country.

(c)     Government  has  mandated  road  safety  audit  at  all  stages (design  stage,  construction  stage,  while  opening  to  traffic  and during operations) through engagement of independent road safety expert for improving road safety on NHs, including bridges. Further, Consultants (Authority's Engineer / Independent Engineer) are appointed by the Ministry and its executing agencies for day to day supervision of the works at site. Officials  of  MoRTH  and  its  executing  agencies  as  well  as Independent  Third-Party  Auditors  undertake  inspections  time-totime and ensure adherence of conformity of quality of construction by  the  Concessionaire  /  Contractor.   Deficiencies,  if  any,  observed during such examination / supervision are brought to the notice of the Concessionaires / Contractors for taking up necessary corrective measures.

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