Question : NEW NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN BACKWARD AND TRIBAL AREAS OF ASSAM

(a) whether the Government has contemplated to sanction and construct some new National Highways in the backward and tribal areas of Assam to improve the road connectivity within the areas in question and also to improve the riding quality and standard of the existing National Highway e.g. NH 31 (C), NH 31, NH 52 and NH 37 etc.;

(b) if so, the steps taken so far in this regard;

(c) if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether the Government have contemplated to provide adequate amount of Central Fund from the Non-Lapsable Central Pool Resources to renovate existing link roads connecting Indo-Bhutan borders on the northern bank of the river Brahmaputra;

(e) if so, the steps taken so far in this regard;

(f) if not, the reasons therefor;

(g) whether the Government has given the required amount of Central Fund regularly to the State Government of Assam over the past 5 years for the improvement and maintenance of all the National Highways existing within the State;

(h) if so, the amount given so far, year-wise; and

(i) if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)

(a), (b) & (c) : At present, due to paucity of funds, there is no proposal for the declaration of new National Highways (NHs) including those in the backward and tribal areas of Assam. Out of about 2029 kms of NHs in Assam with State Government and the Border Roads Organization (BRO), about 1400 kms have already been improved or are being improved. The remaining length requiring improvement is likely to be covered in the next one to two years depending on the availability of funds. A length of 731 kms of NHs in Assam is included for four-laning under East- West corridor, which is targeted for completion by 2007. In addition, double-laning of all single-lane stretches of NHs is included in the `Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in the North Eastern Region` prepared by this Ministry. This programme is under finalization.

(d), (e) & (f) : There is no specific proposal to renovate the existing link roads connecting Indo-Bhutan borders on the northern bank of the river Brahmaputra from the funding under Non-Lapsable Central Pool Resources.

(g), (h) & (i) : Yes, Sir. The details are as under:

Year	Improvement works under	Maintenance Works under	Plan Head (5054)	Non-plan Head (3054)
1999-00	Rs. 6496.32 lakhs	Rs. 3677.46 lakhs
2000-01	Rs. 7954.00 lakhs	Rs. 3131.03 lakhs
2001-02	Rs. 14262.19 lakhs	Rs. 4284.97 lakhs
2002-03	Rs. 15737.00 lakhs	Rs. 6025.00 lakhs
2003-04	Rs. 17985.00 lakhs	Rs. 5953.00 lakhs