(a) whether the national highways in Bihar are in poor shape for the last several years due to lack of proper maintenance;
(b) if so, whether the Government proposes to formulate any plan to improve the condition of national highways;
(c) if so, the details of the plan and the stretch of national highways where construction work is likely to be started; and
(d) the names of cities situated on this stretch?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) The National Highways in Bihar are maintained in traffic worthy condition within available resources. However, around 2373 kms. of State roads were declared as National Highways during 9th and 10th Plan period and at the time of their declaration as National Highways they suffered from inherent deficiencies such as inadequate number of lane, weak pavement and bridge strurcture and absence of safety features resulting in their below average condition. The deficiencies are being removed in phased manner.
(b) and (c) 719 kms length of National Highways are being four laned under National Highway Development Project. There is also a proposal to improve another 890 kms length of various National Highways sections under Pradhan Mantry Bharat Jodo Pariyojna. An outlay of Rs. 132 Crores have been provided in the Annual Plan 2004-05 for improvement of remaining National Highways.
(d) The important cities of Bihar which are situated on the stretches planned for improvement are Patna, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi, Gopalganj, Chappra, Motihari, Purnea, Begusarai, Bakhtiyarpur, Munger, Arrah, Baxur, Sasaram, Aurangabad etc.