Lok Sabha Question No. 265 (STARRED), answered on 2025-12-18
Subject: Systematic Maintenance and Repair of NHs
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Shri Rajesh Verma, Shri Mukeshkumar Chandrakaant Dalal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 265 ANSWERED ON 18 TH  DECEMBER, 2025

## SYSTEMATIC MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF NHS

- *265.   SHRI RAJESH VERMA:

SHRI MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has implemented any policy to ensure systematic Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of National Highways in Samastipur,  Khagaria,  Surat,  Rajahmundry,  Sagar  and  Ghaziabad Parliamentary Constituency, if so, the details thereof;
- (b)  the role and responsibility of concessionaires or contractors in highway  maintenance  under  Operation,  Maintenance  and  Transfer (OMT) and Operation and Maintenance (O&M) contracts;
- (c)  whether  highway  stretches  under  Toll  Operate  and  Transfer (TOT) and Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) models also follow a  similar  maintenance  responsibility  framework,  if  so,  the  details thereof;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  has  adopted  Performance  Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) or Short Term Maintenance Contracts (STMC) for other stretches and if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the manner in which these contractual models help in ensuring timely and quality upkeep of National Highways across the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a) to (e) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (e) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  265  ANSWERED  ON  18.12.2025 ASKED  BY  SHRI  RAJESH  VERMA  AND  SHRI  MUKESHKUMAR CHANDRAKAANT DALAL REGARDING SYSTEMATIC MAINTENANCE AND REPAIR OF NHS

- (a) The  Government  has  prioritized  the  maintenance  of  existing National Highway (NH) network and inter-alia evolved a mechanism to  ensure  Maintenance  and  Repair  (M&R)  of  all  NHs  sections, including  NHs  in Samastipur, Khagaria, Surat, Rajahmundry, Sagar and  Ghaziabad  Parliamentary  Constituency,  through  accountable maintenance agency.
- (b)  to  (e)  Concession  period  for  Projects  on  Operate,  Maintain  and Transfer (OMT) is generally 9 years with the responsibility of routine and  periodic  maintenance,  including  smooth  traffic  management, lying with the Concessionaire.

For Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) and InvIT projects, concession period is for 20 to 30 years,  wherein  the Concessionaire  is responsible  for  operation  and  maintenance  of  the  NHs  stretches during the concession period after the handover of the project site as per the terms of the Concession Agreement.

Routine maintenance activities including periodic major maintenance  as  per  the  schedules  /  performance  standards  of maintenance  are  carried  out  by  the  Contractor  /  Concessionaire within their respective concession / contract period.

Repair of identified defects / issues in the road condition are rectified  by  the  Contractor  /  Concessionaire  within  the  stipulated timelines  as  per  provisions  of  the  Contract  Agreement  and  its Schedules [Schedule F for TOT / InvIT / OMT Projects]. Compliance to  the  maintenance  requirements  is  ensured  through  regular  field visits and inspections by the Authority Engineer (AE) / Independent Engineer (IE) and Authority officers.

For  all  sections  of  NHs  stretches  which  are  not  part  of  any Contract / Concession, Government has taken a policy decision to undertake maintenance works through Performance Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) or Short Term Maintenance Contract (STMC). While STMC works are generally undertaken for a contract period of 1-2 year, PBMC works are undertaken for a contract period of about 5-7 years.

*****