1. Government has currently awarded 501 Wayside Amenities (WSAs) along National Highways/Expressways. Out of these, 94 Wayside Amenities have been made operational. The development of more than 700 WSAs is likely to be completed by the Financial Year 2028-2029.

2. The Wayside Amenities have provision of facilities like Fuel Station, Electric Vehicle Charging Station, Toilets, Drinking Water, Parking, Dhaba/Restaurant/Eateries etc. A digital feedback system to enable users to provide digital inputs is installed at WSAs for the purpose of quality monitoring.

3. WSAs are operated by operators selected through a private bidding. However, to create employment opportunities and promote local artisans, areas have been assigned for Kiosks as part of mandatory facilities in dedicated covered zones. Also, to promote the local produce, Village Haats have been provisioned as permissible facilities through Khadi and Village Industries Commission. As WSAs are run by operators selected through a bidding system, the details of employment creation are not captured by the Government.

4. Government, through National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) envisions development of Wayside Amenities at approximate intervals of 40-60 km. along National Highways and Expressways. The State-wise numbers of 501 awarded WSAs and 94 operational WSAs are annexed as Annexure-A.

Annexure referred to in part (c) of reply

This reply was given by the Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written statement to an unstarred question (3617) in the Rajya Sabha.

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GDH/HR

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