Question : PROGRESS OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

(a) whether the maintenance of the National Highways in several parts of the country including the Kota-Baran stretch of National Highway-76 (west corridor), the Pindwara- Udaipur section of NH-76, the Jaipur-Agra Road NH-11 and the Jaipur-Delhi Road NH-8 in Rajasthan is poor;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;

(c) the status of four laning work in the country including Rajasthan alongwith the funds allocated, estimated cost and funds utilised for the projects; and

(d) the steps taken to expedite four/six laning of Highways and improve maintenance of existing roads?

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

(a) to (d) The development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) is a continuous process and the NHs in the country are being kept in traffic worthy condition within the available resources, depending upon traffic density and inter-se priority of works.Actions for restoration of the stretches of NHs damaged in various states due to floods, rains, etc., are accordingly taken up from time to time to keep such stretches in traffic worthy conditions.The maintenance of existing roads are carried out by the Contractor/Concessionaire, to keep them in traffic worthy condition, as part of their obligations under contract/concession agreement wherever 4/6 laning works are under implementation under National Highway Development Project (NHDP).  The maintenance of existing stretches of NHs entrusted to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are carried out either directly by NHAI or through the concerned State Public Works Departments (PWDs) with funds provided by NHAI in case the works of improvement to  4/6 laning have not yet started in such sections.  All such NHs including those in the State of Rajasthan are maintained in traffic worthy conditions as per availability of funds, traffic density, extent of damages and inter-se priority.

The works for improvement of NHs to 4-lane standards are primarily being taken up under NHDP-Phases-I, II & III. The detailed status of works under NHDP-Phases-I, II & III in the country including Rajasthan indicating the total length, approved estimated cost, expenditure incurred (upto 31.03.2009), length completed, length under implementation, etc. are at Annex-I. State-wise and project-wise funds are not allocated under NHDP and the expenditure for NHDP is met out of funds allocated to NHAI. Improvement of some NH stretches to 4-lane standards, other than under NHDP, are also taken up through State Public Works Departments (PWDs) and Border Roads Organization (BRO). The total sanctioned cost of such ongoing improvement works on about 153 km length of NH stretches is Rs. 762.78 crore. The expenditure incurred on the same is about Rs. 340 crore.The details of the steps taken to expedite four/six laning of NHs is at Annex-II.