Lok Sabha Question No. 4363 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-11
Subject: Target for Construction
Ministry: ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
Asked by: SRINIVAS KESINENI, (ADV.) JOICE GEORGE, B. SREERAMULU, K. KAMARAAJ

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has fixed any targets for construction of National Highways (NHs) in the country;
- (b) if so, the details of targets fixed and achieved during the last three years;
- (c) whether the Government has ascertained the reasons for slow pace of construction of National Highways;
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken for timely completion of the projects;
- (e) whether the Government has fixed any norms for maintaining quality of National Highways;
- (f) whether these norms are being followed by the construction companies; and
- (g) if so, the details thereof?

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4363

ANSWERED ON 11 TH  AUGUST, 2016

## TARGET FOR CONSTRUCTION

4363.  SHRI KESINENI NANI: ADV. JOICE GEORGE: SHRI B. SRIRAMULU: DR. K. KAMARAJ:

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

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

## (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) and (b) The Ministry has fixed the target of 8000 km for NHAI for the construction of National Highways  (NHs)  in  the  country  during  the  current  financial  year.  The  details  of  target  fixed  and achieved during the last three years by the NHAI is as follows:

|   S No | Year    |   Target (km) |   Achievement (km) |
|--------|---------|---------------|--------------------|
|      1 | 2013-14 |          3000 |               1901 |
|      2 | 2014-15 |          2000 |               1502 |
|      3 | 2015-16 |          2000 |               1988 |

(c) Some projects have shown slow pace of construction of NHs mainly due to problems in land acquisition, utility  shifting,  non-availability  of  Soil/Aggregates,  Poor  performance  of  contractors, Environment/  Forest/Wildlife  Clearance,  ROB  &  RUB  issue  with  Railways,  Public  agitation  for additional facilities, Arbitration/contractual disputes with contractors etc.

(d) In  order  to  ensure  timely  completion  of  the  projects,  regular  meetings  are  held  with  project developers, State Governments and contractors.  Regular review meetings are held in Head Quarter by Ministry  with  Regional  Officers,  concessionaires  /contractors  to  make  the  construction  of  projects hassle free. To expedite completion of these projects various steps are taken which include  streamlining of land acquisition & environment clearances, exit for equity investors, premium re-schedulement, close coordination with other Ministries, revamping of dispute resolution mechanism, frequent reviews at various levels etc.

(e) to (g) Works  of  National  Highway  are  executed  duly  following  the  specifications  and standards  laid  down  by  Ministry  of  Road  Transport  &  Highways(MoRT&H)  and  Indian  Road Congress(IRC). To ensure that the works are executed as per prescribed specifications and standards, Consultants are appointed by  Ministry/National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) for day to day supervision of the works at site. It is the responsibility of such Consultants to ensure compliance of the provisions of the Concession / Contract Agreement in so far as quality of the work is concerned. Ministry/NHAI officials also carries out quality checks of the works executed on random basis and deficiencies, if any, observed during such examination / inspection are brought to the notice of the Concessionaire / Contractor for corrective measures.

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