Question : MAINTENANCE OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN HIMALAYAN STATES

(a) the total lengths of NHs in the country;

(b) the process adopted, including legal/administrative provisions, for maintenance of National Highways in the country;

(c) the total funds allocated/earmarked for maintenance of National Highways in the Himalayan States, including Sikkim, during the last three years, State-wise;

(d) whether the Government intends to develop a special policy for maintenance of National Highways in the Himalayan Region, in view of complex ecological and topographical features of hill States and the risks posed by earthquakes, landslides, avalanches and GLOFs; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)

(a) The total length of National Highways(NHs) in the country is about 96,260 km.

(b) The maintenance works are being implemented on agency basis. The State Government (State PWDs), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and National Highway and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) are the main agencies of the Ministry.The responsibility of maintenance rests with the agency to which the stretch is entrusted.

The Stretches developed/under development through private sector participation are maintained by concessionaire as per Model Concession Agreement (MCA). For stretches being developed under public funding, maintenance of existing road is carried out through the contractor as a part of his contract agreement.

For stretches entrusted to NHAI and completed under Public funded Mode, the stretch is taken over by NHAI and its Operation and maintenance is carried out through O&M (Operation and Maintenance) contracts or under OMT (Operate, Maintain and Transfer) mode.

(c) The State-wise details of funds allocated for maintenance of NHs entrusted to State PWDs during each of the last three year and the current year in the Himalayan States is annexed. Maintenance of NHs in Sikkim is entrusted to BRO for which consolidated allocation is made.

(d)&(e) The extant maintenance norms of the Ministry inter-alia take into account the complex topographical features of hilly areas and have separate provisions for these areas.The Ministry does not intend to develop a special policy for maintenance of National Highways in the Himalayan Region.