Lok Sabha Question No. 1235 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-07-27
Subject: Maintenance of NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Ajay Kumar Mandal, Locket Chatterjee, Navneet Ravi Rana

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1235

ANSWERED ON 27 TH  JULY 2023

## MAINTENANCE OF NHs

1235.   SHRI AJAY KUMAR MANDAL: MS. LOCKET CHATTERJEE: SHRIMATI NAVNEET RAVI RANA:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

be pleased to state:

- (a)   whether the Government has implemented stringent measures to ensure maintenance and upkeep of the old road infrastructure on National  Highways  (NHs)  of  West  Bengal,  Bihar  and  Amravati  of Maharashtra;
- (b)     if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  the details of the funds allocated and spent on maintenance of highways/roads  during  the  last  four  years  by  National  Highways Authority of India(NHAI), NH-wise;
- (d)    whether any assessment has been carried out by the NHAI to ensure the structural robustness of National Highway infrastructure, particularly of the old bridges in Hooghly, West Bengal and Amravati to meet the road safety norms;
- (e)     if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (f)     whether mining rules, road safety audit are being ignored and work is not being carried out as per the rules on National Highway projects  in  Bhagalpur  and  Amravati  under  the  construction  by MoRTH, NHAI;
- (g)    if so, whether the Government proposes to investigate it; and
- (h)     the  details  of  the  report  of  road  safety  audit  conducted  on National Highway projects in Bhagalpur and Amravati by the MoRTH, NHAI?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- a) & b) Maintenance and upkeep of National Highways (NHs) is a continuous  process.  National  Highways  are  maintained  through different  mechanisms  in  different  sections  of  NHs  such  as  by concessionaire/ contractor during construction and operation/ defect liability period cum maintenance period, performance based maintenance  contract  and  various  types  of  routine/  preventive/ emergency repair works. The condition of existing road is assessed through visual inspection supported by Network Survey Vehicle and Falling Weight Deflectometer surveys and necessary repair/rehabilitation  works  are  carried  out.  In  addition,  National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has developed its own App named NHAI  One  App  for  inspection  of  roads.  These  measures  are  being followed on all National Highways including those in the States of West Bengal & Bihar and Amravati of Maharashtra.
- c) The details of expenditure incurred by NHAI during last 4 years on maintenance and repair are as under:

| Financial Year   |   Expenditure incurred on M&R (Rs. in Cr.) |
|------------------|--------------------------------------------|
| 2019-20          |                                    1935.63 |
| 2020-21          |                                    3662.06 |
| 2021-22          |                                    3577.89 |
| 2022-23          |                                    4424.65 |

Funds are allocated and spent on state and project wise and not on NH wise.

- d) & e) Bridge expert of concessionaire/ contractor as well as IE/ AE teams conduct survey of bridges on regular interval to assess health  condition  of  the  old  bridges  &  structures.  If  any  bridge/

structure is found to be in distressed/ dilapidated condition, professional  expert  from  renowned  institutes  like  IITs,  NITs  are engaged  for inspection and  advice.  Based  on  such  condition assessment further repair/ rehabilitation/ retrofitting of such bridges & structures are undertaken. f) to h) As per contract/ concession agreement, it is the responsibility of the contractor/ concessionaire  to procure  all applicable  permits  for  implementation  of  the  project  including permits for mining of stone boulder, sand, moorrum, etc. Road safety audit are conducted on NH projects as per the provisions of contract/ concession agreement and guidelines of Ministry in Bhagalpur and Amravati districts. Based on the findings of the road safety audit, necessary  corrective  measures  have  been  undertaken  in  various projects in Bhagalpur & Amravati districts such as Khagaria -Purnea section of NH-31, Munger -Bhagalpur -Mirzachauki section of NH-53, Talegaon -Amravati  Sections  of  NH-53  from  km  50.0  to  166.0, Amravati -Chikili  (Pkg-I)  from  km  166.0  to  220.0,  Construction  of flyover  at  Y-Junction  in  Rahatgaon  in  front  of  Hotel  Gauri  Inn Amravati, etc.

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