(a) whether all the stretches of the roads connecting the Union Territories near Gujarat have been upgraded to National Highways;
(b) if not, the reasons therefor;
(c) the names of the stretches left out from the purview of upgradation; and
(d) the criterion laid down for such upgradation?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI K.H. MUNIYAPPA)
(a) No, Sir.
(b) Dadra, & Nagar Haveli and Daman near Gujarat are already located near National Highway No. 8 and Diu is located near National Highway No. 8E.
(c) Declaration of roads connecting the Union Territories near Gujarat as National Highways are not under consideration. However, Ministry has decided for upgradation to 4-laning three roads namely (i) Vapi-Daman road (ii) Vapi-Silvasa road and (iii) Bhilad-Silvasa road connecting to National Highway No.8 and National Highway No. 8E under Inter-State Connectivity Scheme. Proposals for the same from Government of Gujarat and Government of Union Territory are still awaited.
(d) Criteria laid down for qualification of upgradation the State Highways to National Highways is enclosed at Annex-1.
ANNEX-1
ANNEX-1 REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (d) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2856 FOR ANSWER ON 10.05.2006 ASKED BY SHRI BHUPENDRASINH SOLANKI, SHRIMATI JAYABEN B. THAKKAR, DR. VALLABHBHAI KATHIRIA, SHRI VIKRAMBHAI ARJANBHAI MADAM, SHRI MAHESH KANODIA REGARDING UPGRADATION TO NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
CRITERIA FOR DECLARATION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
1. Roads which run through the length and breadth of the country.
2. Roads connecting adjacent countries.
3. Roads connecting the National Capital with State Capital and roads connecting mutually the state capitals.
4. Roads connecting major ports, large industrial centers or tourist centers.
5. Roads meeting very important strategic requirements.
6. Arterial roads which enable sizeable reduction in travel distance and achieve substantial economic growth thereby.
7. Roads which help opening up large tracts of backward area and hilly regions.
8. National Highways grid of 100 km is achieved.
9. The road must be up to the standard laid down for State Highways both in its technical requirements as well as the land requirements.
10. The road and right of way must be free of any type of encroachment and should be the property of the State Government.
11. The right of way required for the National Highways (preferably 45m, minimum 30m) must be available for acquiring, free of encroachments and the State Government would complete acquiring formalities within six months.