Question : TRAFFIC JAM ON NH

(a) the reasons for the continuous traffic jams on the National Highways (NHs) such as NH-72 A in Delhi-Dehradun road, NH-8 near Jhadesar in Bharuch district, Delhi-Gurgaon Express Highway, etc.;

(b) the action taken / proposed to be taken by the Government to resolve these jams on the above mentioned highways in particular;

(c) whether the increases of vehicles is causing heavy traffic and parking problems in many parts of the country;

(d) if so, whether the Government has constituted any committee to study the effects of increase of vehicles in the country;

(e) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto; and

(f) whether Indian roadways are capable to bear the operation of a large number of vehicles?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (DR. TUSHAR A. CHAUDHARY)

(a) & (b) No, Madam. However, due to large flow of traffic on these stretches, congestion may occur at toll plazas near urban areas in peak hours. The following steps are taken to ensure free flow of traffic at toll plazas:

i) Toll operators have been impressed upon to minimize clearance time of a vehicle by toll collectors at the plaza.

ii) Providing additional lanes.

iii) Channelizing the traffic in proper way.

iv) Deploying traffic marshals to segregate cash lane traffic from ‘tag only’ lane traffic.

(c) It is the responsibility of concerned State Governments to control vehicular traffic as well as to provide solution to parking problems.

(d) & (e) Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has not constituted any Committee to study the effects of increase of vehicles in the country.

(f) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). The development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process and the works for development and maintenance of NHs including their strengthening, widening etc. are taken up from time to time as per availability of funds, inter-se priority and traffic density.