Question : WIDENING OF NH 8E & 8D

(a) whether the Government has approved six-laning of National Highway (NH) 8E under Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the present status of the project;

(c) whether Jetpur-Somnath section of National Highway 8D is proposed to be converted into four-lane;

(d) if so, whether four-laning of the said National Highways is adequate in view of heavy traffic movement on these highways; and

(e) if not, the plan for six-laning of National Highway 8D in near future?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI SARVEY SATHYANARAYANA)

(a) & (b) Out of 492.00 km of NH-8E, 22 km has been approved by the Government for four laning under four laning of Jetpur-Somnath project. Further, the Government has approved, in the month of July 2012, stretches under unified National Highways Development Project (NHDP) Phase-IV. Under this programme Gadu-Dwarka (210 km) section of NH-8E has been considered for development with two lane with paved shoulders whereas the Bhavnagar-Veraval section of NH-8E has been considered for four/six laning. These proposals are under appraisal of the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC).

(c) to (e) Yes, Sir. The Jetpur-Somnath section of NH-8D is being converted to four lane, which is adequate as per the present traffic projections for development of NH-8D.