The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) in the country.   National Highways comprises only 1.7% total road network and carry about 40% of the road traffic. At present, the total length of NHs in the country is 70,934 km.   About 25 per cent of the total length of National Highways is single lane/intermediate lane, about 52 per cent is two lane standard and the balance 23 per cent is four lane standard or more.

 

The State Governments (State PWDs), Border Roads Organization (BRO) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are the implementing agencies.  The  National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) for development of National Highways is one of the major programmes being implemented by NHAI.

 

NHDP Projects as on November, 2010

Sl No	NHDP Component	Total length (km)	Completed 4/6 lane (km)	Under implementation		Balance for award of civil works (km)
				Length (km)	No. of contracts
1	GQ	5846	5809	37	10	-
2	NS-EW	7142	5385	1332	106	425
3	Port connectivity	380	291	83	6	6
4	Other NHs	1383	926	437	7	20
5	SARDP-NE	388	-	112	2	276
6	NHDP Phase III	12109	1922	5207	73	4980
7	NHDP Phase IV	20000	-	486	4	19514
8	NHDP Phase V	6500	407	1893	16	4200
9	NHDP Phase VI	1000	-	-	-	1000
10	NHDP Phase VII	700	-	41	2	659
	Total	55448	14740	9628	226	31080

 

            Besides, the National Highways Development Programme, special programme for development and improvement of road connectivity in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas, Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North-East region (SARDP-NE), and Special Programme for 2-laning and development of NHs through Annual Plans of the Ministry have also been approved. 

 

Improvement of Road Connectivity in LWE Affected Areas

 

To improve the road connectivity in LWE affected areas the Government has approved a scheme for development of about 1,126 km of National Highways and 4,351 km of State roads as a special project with an estimated cost of about Rs. 7,300 crore.  During the year 2010, works in a length of 3012 km costing Rs 3537 crore have been awarded upto November, 2010. 

 

SARDP for North-East Region

 

            The scheme has been envisaged to be taken up in  three parts. The Phase ‘A’ of SARDP-NE approved by the Government envisages improvement of about 4,099 km length of roads (2041km of NH and 2058 km of State roads).  The SARDP-NE Phase A is targeted for completion by March, 2015.  During the year 2010, upto November  the length sanctioned was 1205 km, the length awarded was 260 kms and the length completed is 170 km, while work is in progress for 616 km.

 

            The Phase ‘B’ of SARDP-NE, covering 3723 km (1285 km NHs and 2438 km of state roads) has been approved for DPR preparation only and  up to 30^th November, 2010, DPRs for about 450 km have been completed.

 

            A Special Package has been approved by the Government for the development  of Road & Highways  in Arunachal Pradesh. This involves 2319 km length of road (1,472 km of NHs & 847 km of State/General Staff/Strategic Roads). The Projects on 776 km will be taken up on BOT (Annuity) mode and the balance 1,543 km will be developed on EPC basis.  The entire Arunachal package is targeted for completion by June, 2015.

 

            The Length sanctioned & awarded during the calendar year and work in progress as on 30^th November, 2010 - 416 km

 

Special Programme 

 

The Ministry has evolved a Special Programme for 2-laning of the entire balance National Highways network which is not covered under any approved programmes, where it will  develop 6,700 km of single lane/intermediate lane National Highways to a minimum of 2-lane standards on the corridor concept. A length of 3800 km is proposed to be funded from a World Bank loan of US $ 2.96 millions and the balance length is proposed to be taken up through budgetary resources.  During the year 2010, works in a length of 736 km costing Rs 2,273 crore have been awarded.

 

            The consultancy studies for preparation of feasibility study/DPRs for the entire length of 3800 km to be funded out of World Bank assistance are in progress and is targeted to be completed by July, 2011.

 

Development of NH through Annual Plans with State PWDs not covered under any approved programme

 

 Hitherto, these development works were being taken up in small stretches spread out on various NHs keeping in view the limited availability of funds.  However, now  Corridor Development Approach has been adopted from the current financial year, whereby apart from widening to 2 lanes, strengthening of the existing 2 lanes in these corridors as also removal of other deficiencies are also being covered.

 

Physical progress of non-NHDP sections of NHs during 2010-11(up to October, 2010)

 

 

Streamlining of National Permit System

 

         The Government has introduced a new national permit system with effect from May 8, 2010.  According to the new system, the permit holder can operate throughout the country on payment of a consolidated fee of Rs 15,000/- per annum per vehicle.  The consolidated fee is collected centrally through any branch of State Bank of India and subsequently disbursed to the States/UTs.  The system has been further streamlined and is now being implemented electronically through web portal developed by NIC.

 

Strengthening Public Transport System in the Country

 

Keeping in view the condition of State owned public transport undertakings, the Government has introduced a scheme with effect from March 15, 2010 to provide financial assistance to these organizations for strengthening public transport system in the country.  The scheme envisages assistance for introduction of Information Technology such as GPS/GSM  based vehicle tracking system, electronic ticket vending machines, etc.  Projects of seven States, namely, Karnataka, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Punjab and Rajasthan have been approved for providing central assistance by the Ministry.  The total central assistance for these projects would be around Rs 33.00 crore out of which, an amount of about Rs 16.00 crore has been sanctioned for release during the current financial year.

 

 Setting Up of  I&C Centres And Model Driver Training School

 

              Keeping in view of the lack of proper infrastructure for enforcement of strict inspection and maintenance regime for motor vehicles to check their roadworthiness, the Government has finalized a scheme to set up model I&C centre in some of the cities which will be replicated by the States.

 

            Similarly, the Government has also finalized a new scheme for setting up of model driving training schools with the objective of assisting the States/UTs to set up ideal driver training institutes keeping in view the need for Indian driving conditions.

            The proposal to set up one Inspection & Certification (I&C) centre and one model driving training school at Chhindwara in Madhya Pradesh on pilot basis has been sanctioned.  In addition, three proposals for setting up of I&C centres in Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Karnataka have been approved recently. (PIB Features)

 

*Inputs from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways

 

RTS/VN

SS-24/SF-24/28.01.2011