(a) whether more diesel is consumed due to bad condition of the National Highways;
(b) if so, the reaction of the Government thereto;
(c) the value of diesel and petrol that goes waste every year due to decrepit National Highways; and
(d) the efforts made by the Government to check wastage of petrol and diesel?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI R.P.N SINGH)
(a) & (b): It is a fact that due to bad conditions of roads more diesel is consumed.
However, National Highways are maintained in traffic worthy condition and improvements are
carried out within available resources to keep the vehicle operating cost minimum.
(c) & (d): Vehicle operating cost, of which cost of diesel consumption is a part,
depends upon a number of factors, such as condition of riding surface, road geometry
including gradient, congestion on the road, nature and condition of vehicle fleet.
Government has taken a number of steps to improve the condition of the National Highways
and improve the capacity of the system whereby diesel consumption is reduced. National
Highway Development Project (NHDP) undertaken in seven phases since 2000 is a huge effort
in this direction. In addition, non-NHDP National Highway are improved and maintained out
of regular annual budgetary provisions.