(a) whether there is a very large network of roads in the country;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the quality and maintenance of these roads is not up to the mark;
(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and
(e) the steps being taken by the Government to improve the standard of roads?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) and (b) India has one of the largest road networks in the world, aggregating to about 3.31 million kilometers at present. The country’s road network consists of National Highways, State Highways, Major District Roads, Other District Roads and Village Roads.
(c) and (d) This Ministry is responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways only. It is a fact that there are some stretches of the National Highways not capable to meet the demands of increased traffic. The total length of National Highways in the country at present is about 65,569 km. This includes about 31,271 km of National Highways declared during the Ninth and Tenth Plan period. These National Highways were State roads before being declared as National Highways and had inherent deficiencies like poor geometrics, insufficient pavement, distressed bridges and culverts, congested sections etc. The National Highways are being kept in traffic worthy condition within the available resources. The responsibility of development and maintenance of state roads and other roads are with the State Governments concerned.
(e)The Government has taken up improvement programme of 4/6 laning of National Highways under Phases I and II of the National Highways Development Project (NHDP) connecting four metropolitan cities namely Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkatta and North-South Corridor (Srinagar to Kanyakumari) and East-West Corridor (Silchar to Porbandar), improvement of road connectivity to major ports and 4-laning of other National Highways. The total length is about 14,234 km. The Government has approved 4-laning of 4000 km of National Highways and preparation of Detailed Project Reports for another 6000 km under NHDP Phase-III. The Government has also approved 1310 km of National Highways and State Roads under the Phase A of the Special Accelerated Road Development Programme in North-Eastern region. These are in addition to the development and maintenance works of National Highways carried out by the State PWDs and Border Roads Organisation as agencies of the Central Government.