Question : FUNDS FOR NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN RAJASTHAN

(a) whether the Union Government has fixed any norms/criteria for construction of National Highways;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Union government has received any complaints regarding the thickness of the National Highways in Rajasthan as per IRC standard;

(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) the estimated cost for renewal/repair and maintenance of National Highways in Rajasthan and the funds allocated and released by the Union Government for the purpose?

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

(a) Yes, Sir.

(b) The construction of National Highways (NHs) are being done as per norms/ guidelines of Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport & Highways, Indian Road Congress and Bureau of Indian Standard. In the absence of any specific norms the international norms are followed.

(c)&(d) Some of the National Highways, which have been declared as National Highways in 9th and 10th Plan and which were State roads before being declared National Highways are deficient in many respects such as crust thickness, road geometrics, lane width, weak and narrow bridges etc. Development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process. Development/Improvement in the form of strengthening, widening, improvement in riding quality, construction of weak and narrow bridges, construction of bypass etc. are being taken up in a phased manner in various Annual Plans depending upon inter-se priority, traffic volume and availability of funds.

(e) Funds allocated/released for renewal/repair and maintenance of NHs in the State of Rajasthan by the Union Government during the last three years including current year (up to January 2006), is Rs 263.74 crore.