Question : Signage and IRC Standards

(a) whether the Government is aware that in 15 out of 32 cities, more than 30% signages were not as per IRC standards and not a single road, out of 45 km covered in field audit, conducted for Supreme Court Committee by IIT-Delhi, The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) and DIMTS complied with the IRC standards;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to ensure compliance of IRC standards; and

(c) whether steps have been taken by the Government to prevent rampant encroachment of footpaths as the above survey highlights 70% encroachment in 19 out of 32 cities, if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS

(SHRI MANSUKH L. MANDAVIYA)

(a) to (c) The Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety has been constituted by the Hon''ble Supreme Court in Writ Petition (Civil) No.295 of 2012. The Writ Petition is sub-judice.DIMTS was engaged as consultancy to audit the implementation of the directions issued by the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety for 8 Statesviz. Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, UP. Kerala and Karnataka.The agency has submitted their reports for all the 8 States to the Supreme Court Committee on Road Safety. As part of the audit four cities in each state, i.e total 32 cities were verified for adherence to road signage’s as per IRC standards, availability of footpaths and extent of encroachments on sample basis. About 50kms road length was covered in each city through visual field inspections comprising different road sections. The cities covered and adherence to IRC standards has been given at Annexure-I.The findings of the audit conducted are discussed in detail by the Supreme Court Committee with the concerned State Governments, this Ministry, executive agencies i.e. state PWD, NHAI and other stake holders and further necessary directionsare issued to the States by the Committee.

It is stated that the Ministry develops and maintains the National Highways through various agencies such as NHAI/ PWD/ BRO/ NHIDCL etc. These agencies ensure compliance of IRC standards while executing the NH projects. Further, the Ministry established Highways administrationsfor National Highways under the control of national Highways (Land and Traffic) Act, 2002 to exercise powers and discharge functions conferred on it under the Act.