Question : SPECIFIC TECHNIQUES FOR CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF ROADS

(a) the State-wise details of the stretches of highways in kilometres with their categories alongwith the details of stretch of roads in kms. per thousand persons as per population of States;

(b) whether the Government proposes to use specific techniques for construction and maintenance of the roads in flood hit areas alongwith enhancing the amount of funds estimated in this regard;

(c) the State-wise number of bridges alongwith the bridges that are in a bad condition and require repairs/need to be replaced by new bridges;

(d) the details of project aimed at enhancing the Road Network the length of two-lane, four-lane and six-lane roads in Bihar; and

(e) the road projects sanctioned so far in the State and the time by which remaining projects are likely to be sanctioned?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI JITIN PRASADA)

(a) This Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). The responsibility for development and maintenance of other roads are vested with the concerned State Governments, etc. The State / Union Territory-wise details of length of NHs and length of NHs per thousand populations are annexed.

(b) The development / construction and maintenance of NHs are being carried out as per the provisions contained in the Ministry’s Specifications for Road and Bridge Works, relevant codes of practices published by Indian Roads Congress (IRC) and manuals / guidelines / circulars issued by the Ministry and updated from time to time.

The works for development and maintenance of NHs are carried out based on the conditions of NHs, traffic density, inter-se priority and availability of funds. The non-plan allocations that are annually provided by the Ministry of Finance to this Ministry for Maintenance & Repair(M&R) of NHs are of the order of about 40% of the actual requirements as per the Ministry’s stipulated norms. This Ministry has taken up the issue of enhancing the allocations of funds for M&R of NHs from time to time with the Ministry of Finance. Ministry of Finance has agreed to provide additional allocation of 300 crore at Revised Estimate (RE) stage of 2011-12.

(c)to(e) The information is being compiled and the same shall be laid on the table of the House.