(a) whether India loses around Rs.10,000 crore a year due to inadequate capacity and poor quality of roads as reported in the Times of India dated October 21, 2004;
(b) if so, whether 50% of National Highways are in highly dilapidated condition; and
(c) if so, the action taken/proposed to be taken by the Government to enhance the capacity utilisation and improve the quality of roads?
THE MINISTER OF SHIPPING, ROAD TRANSPORT & HIGHWAYS (SHRI T.R. BAALU)
(a) to (c) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.
STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (c) OF LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.16 FOR ANSWER ON 01.12.2004 ASKED BY SHRI ANANDRAO V. ADSUL REGARDING DILAPIDATED CONDITION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS
(a) The newspaper report appears to be is based on a report of an Expert Group set up in 1996. It is not possible to quantify accurately the economic losses due to bad condition of the main roads.
(b) No, Sir. The National Highways are being kept in traffic worthy condition within the available resources.
(c) Several measures/programmes like National Highways Development Projects (NHDP), Improvement of Riding Quality Programme (IRQP) and other developmental activities have been taken up for enhancement of the capacity and quality of the National Highways.