Lok Sabha Question No. 740 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-12-04
Subject: Maintenance of NHs in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

## be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government is aware of the poor maintenance and deteriorating  condition  of several  stretches  of  National  Highways including National Highway-45 (NH-45), National Highway-32 (NH-32) and National Highway-44 (NH-44) in the State of Tamil Nadu;
- (b) the total length of National Highways in the State of Tamil Nadu that are currently under repair or pending maintenance as of now;
- c) the funds allocated and utilized for National Highway maintenance in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last three years;
- (d)  whether  the  Government  plans  to  increase  the  frequency  of inspection and quality audits of these highways; and
- (e) the steps being taken to ensure time-bound maintenance, use of quality materials and accountability of contractors?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)

- (a)  &  (b):   Development  and  maintenance  of  National  Highways (NHs),  including  NHs  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu  is  a  continuous process.  The  Government  is  aware  of  the  condition  of  various National  Highway  (NH)  stretches  in  the  State  of  Tamil  Nadu, including NH-45, NH-32 and NH-44. The Government has prioritized the  maintenance  of  existing  National  Highway  (NH)  network  and inter-alia  evolved  a  mechanism  to  ensure  Maintenance  and  Repair

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 740

ANSWERED ON 4 th  DECEMBER, 2025

Maintenance of NHs in Tamil Nadu

740.  DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:

Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री

(M&R) of all NHs sections through accountable maintenance agency.  The  Government  has  planned  that  all  NHs  sections  of National Highways including NHs in the State of Tamil Nadu should be under Maintenance, through one of the following mechanisms:

- i. Maintenance  &  Repair  (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.
- ii. 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).

Repair  of  identified  defects  /  issues  in  the  road  condition  as well  as  other  maintenance  /  repair  works  are  completed  by  the Contractor  /  Concessionaire  within  the  stipulated  timeline  as  per provisions of the Contract.

- (c)         During the last three years, funds allocated and utilized for maintenance of National Highways, other than those NHs which are under concession contracts  or under Defect Liability Period where the responsibility to ensure proper maintenance is with the corresponding concessionaire or contractor and such cost is included in the project cost in Tamil Nadu, are as under:
- (d)        A  robust system of inspection and quality monitoring of NH works  is  in place, viz., third-party  quality  audits,  independent engineer  reviews,  and  periodic  inspections  are  undertaken  by  the implementing agencies to ensure adherence to prescribed standards. Necessary maintenance works are taken up based on the

| Year    |   Allocation (₹ crore) |   Utilization (₹ crore) |
|---------|------------------------|-------------------------|
| 2022-23 |                    554 |                     554 |
| 2023-24 |                    340 |                     340 |
| 2024-25 |                    448 |                     439 |

findings of these inspections to ensure safe and smooth movement of traffic.

- (e)        The Government has taken several measures to ensure timebound and quality maintenance of NHs, including:
- i. Adoption of Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) and Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC) to ensure distress free road.
- ii. Strict enforcement of quality control norms, including deployment of third-party quality auditors.
- iii. Repair  of  identified  defects  /  issues  in  the  road  condition  as well  as  other  maintenance  /  repair  works  is  ensured  through regular inspection by field officers, including Authority Engineer  /  Independent  Engineer  deployed  for  supervision  of projects. For non-compliance during DLP / Concession period, penalties  are  imposed  as  per  the  contract  conditions  or  DLP period  is  extended.  Penalty  provisions  include  due  payment deductions, damage recoveries, debarment / blacklisting etc.
- iv. Fixing of clear timelines for maintenance activities and close monitoring through DATA LAKE portal and review meetings.
- v. Adherence  of  Indian  Road  Congress  specifications  for  all maintenance works.
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