Question : IMPROVING HIGHWAYS NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN BIHAR

(a) whether any proposal has been received from the Government of Bihar seeking Central assistance and drawing attention of the Union Government for the improvement/widening /strengthening of Highways, National Highways in the States;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon;

(c) whether the road density of National Highways in Bihar is at par with the national average and the NHs have been constructed as per prescribed standards;

(d) if so, the details thereof alongwith the length of single lane, two lane and four lane National Highways in the State;

(e) whether there is any proposal to grant any financial package to Bihar for improving Highways/National Highway network in the State;

(f) if so, the details thereof;

(g) whether any reference has been received from public representatives drawing attention to the condition of Highways in the State; and

(h) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI R.P.N. SINGH)

(a) & (b) Government of Bihar have requested for reimbursement of Rs. 711.97 crore spent by them on repair and improvement of certain National Highways out of their own funds. It has not been possible to reimburse the amount as the works were carried out without the prior sanction of the Government and keeping in view the requirement of repairs/ improvements on the one hand and availability of funds to the State, on the other.

(c) Yes, Sir.

(d) Road density of National Highways in Bihar is 38.7 km per 1000sqm area whereas National average is only 21.6 km. Construction/ improvement of National Highways is done as per Ministry`s guidelines /IRC specifications. There are 1756 km single lane/ Intermediate lane, 1354 km two-lane and 537 km four-lane NH in the State.

(e) No, Sir.

(f) Does not arise.

(g) Yes, Sir. Hon`ble Members of Parliament have raised issues regarding condition of National Highways in the House and through various representations.

(h) Government has considered these subject to availability of funds and inter-se-priority of works. During the last five years, 151 works with an aggregate amount of Rs. 905.32 crore under `Plan` and 119 works with an aggregate amount of Rs. 153.78 crore under `Non- Plan` have been sanctioned. These works include widening and strengthening, Improvement of Riding Quality, construction of Bridge and culvert, periodical renewal etc. For improvement of various National Highways to 2-lane/2-lane with paved shoulder, corridor-wise, a length of 305 km is proposed in NHDP Phase-IVB, 807 km under special project from World Bank Assistance and 174 km from the budget provision.