Question : DAMAGE TO NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

(a) the details of damage caused to the National Highways/bridges especially in backward and rural areas by the storms and rains in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(b) whether the Government has taken/proposed to take steps for repairing of these roads/ bridges;

(c) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;

(d) the States which have sought funds from the Central Road Fund for the repair of these damaged National Highways/bridges especially in the backward and rural areas during the said period alongwith the details of amount sought, State-wise; and

(e) the steps taken/being taken by the Government in this regard?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI R.P.N.SINGH)

(a) to (c) This Ministry does not have separate policy for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) in backward and rural areas. There have been damages ranging from minor surface distress to the major damages like breaches on the road etc. on various NHs / Bridges, due to floods / rains etc. during the last three years and current year. Generally types of damages occurred on NHs are pot holes, alligator cracks, stripping, ravelling, depression, undulation, surface damage, sub-grade failures, breach of road, cuts and erosion of embankments & earthen shoulders, damage to cross drainage works and their approaches, landslides, etc. The State-wise details of estimates sanctioned for restoration of these damages during each of the last three years and the current year are annexed. The development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process and NHs in the country are being kept in traffic worthy condition within the available resources, depending upon traffic density and inter-se priority of works. Actions for restoration of the stretches of NHs damaged in various states due to storms, rains, etc., are accordingly taken up from time to time to keep such stretches in traffic worthy conditions.

(d) and (e) As per the provisions of the Central Road Fund (CRF) Act, 2000, the Central Government is responsible, inter-alia, for administration and management of the share of Fund allocated to the development and maintenance of NHs. The entire share of fund under CRF allocated for NHs is presently being mobilized only for development and maintenance of National Highways Development Project (NHDP). No States have sought fund from CRF for the repair of the damaged NHs / bridges.