Question : CONDITION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

(a) whether the condition of National Highways No. 85, 101, 77, 28A and 104 between Chapra, Siwan, Gopalganj and Kaanti to Chakiya respectively is in bad State:

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Government have taken any decision to make special arrangement for maintenance of said Highways to prevent deaths due to accidents;

(d) if so, the details thereof;

(e) if not, the reasons therefor;

(f) whether the screw pile bridge on river Bagmati between Sehore District headquarters of Sitamarhi District Headquarters was washed away in the last flood but the same has not yet been constructed; and

(g) if so, by when it is likely to be constructed?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI PON. RADHAKIRISHNAN)

(a) to (e) Large portions of these highways are reported to be in a bad condition. All these National Highways, except NH-28A, are newly declared National Highways. Improvement of these National Highways is being taken in a phased manner, depending upon availability of funds and inter-se priority.

Rs 79.94 crore have been sanctioned to the Bihar Road Construction Department for improvement of these National Highways in the last three years.

This year, the allocation to Bihar for maintenance and repair of National Highways including for these highways is Rs. 36.41 crore.

(f) & (g) The old existing screw pile bridge over Bagmati river on NH-104 was washed away during this year`s floods. This bridge was earlier damaged due to the floods in the year 2002. A Flood Damage Repair (FDR) estimate amounting to Rs 122.90 lakh was sanctioned in January, 2003 for restoration of this bridge. The work could not be completed by the State Road Construction Department, Bihar, due to problems encountered at site. Meanwhile, the entire existing screw pile bridge got washed away in this year`s floods.

The Ministry has earlier sanctioned an estimate for Rs 14.47 crore in December, 2002 for construction of a high level bridge over Bagmati river on NH-104 at Dubbaghat, as a permanent facility with a target date of completion as December, 2004.