Upkeep and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) including bridges, structures, etc. are undertaken through different modes such as by contractors/concessionaires of NHs development projects during the period of construction and defects liability cum maintenance/operations period, by contractors of different types of maintenance contracts such as Operation, Maintenance and Transfer (OMT), Performance based Maintenance Contract(PBMC), Short Term Maintenance Contract, etc. and by concessionaires of Toll, Operate& Transfer concessions.

Visual as well as equipment based periodical inspection, evaluation and monitoring has been mandated for National Highways including bridges to ensure that structural integrity of various components of NHs is maintained through timely repair/rehabilitation intervention. Structural health monitoring on real time basis is also carried out in some very important bridges. Ministry has also sanctioned Indian Bridge Management System (IBMS) for monitoring and maintenance of the bridges and other structures on the entire NH network in the country.

The Green Highways (Plantation, Transplantation, Beautification &Maintenance) Policy, 2015 covers all the National Highways of the country with the aim to promote greening of NH corridors. Plantation on National Highways Right of Way is carried out as per the said policy.

This information was given by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply to the Lok Sabha today.

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MJPS/NSK

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