Government Launches Major Initiatives to Upgrade National Highways
The Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Pon. Radhakrishnan informed the Rajya Sabha today that Government has launched major initiatives to upgrade and strengthen 54,478 kms of National Highways (NH) in the country including the State of West Bengal through various phases of National Highways Development project (NHDP), out of which 22,345 km have been completed and 12,625 km are under various stages of implementation till 31st October 2014. Balance length will also be completed in a phased manner. These projects are being implemented through various mode of delivery and through various agencies and various local factors are also often affecting these constructions adversely. Therefore, timelines for completion cannot be determined at this stage.
Model Concession Agreement (MCA) lays the guiding principle for safety requirements on the project highway entrusted to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), that Safety requirements apply to all phases of construction, operation and maintenance with emphasis on identification of factors associated with accidents, consideration of the same, and implementation of appropriate remedial measures. The Concessionaires are also required to abide by the Manual for Safety in Road Design, issued by the Government, insofar as they relate to safety of the users. The Concessionaires have to make adequate arrangements during the Construction Period for the safety of workers and road users and notify NHAI and the Independent Engineer. MCA also elaborates safety requirements applicable to phases of operation and maintenance of the project. For carrying out safety audit of the project highways, Road Safety Cell of NHAI has appointed Safety Consultants. The sSafety Consultant has to collect and analyse the accident data for the preceding two years and study the Safety Report for the Development Period and inspect the Project Highways to assess the adequacy of safety measures.
DETAILS OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS UNDER VARIOUS STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION, STATE-WISE
Model Concession Agreement (MCA) lays the guiding principle for safety requirements on the project highway entrusted to National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), that Safety requirements apply to all phases of construction, operation and maintenance with emphasis on identification of factors associated with accidents, consideration of the same, and implementation of appropriate remedial measures. The Concessionaires are also required to abide by the Manual for Safety in Road Design, issued by the Government, insofar as they relate to safety of the users. The Concessionaires have to make adequate arrangements during the Construction Period for the safety of workers and road users and notify NHAI and the Independent Engineer. MCA also elaborates safety requirements applicable to phases of operation and maintenance of the project. For carrying out safety audit of the project highways, Road Safety Cell of NHAI has appointed Safety Consultants. The sSafety Consultant has to collect and analyse the accident data for the preceding two years and study the Safety Report for the Development Period and inspect the Project Highways to assess the adequacy of safety measures.
DETAILS OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY PROJECTS UNDER VARIOUS STAGES OF IMPLEMENTATION, STATE-WISE
| Sl. No. | Name of the Project | State | NH No | Total Length (in km) | Total Project Cost ( Rs. in crore) | Project Funded By |
| 1 | Gundla Pochampalli to Bowenpalli Shivarampalli to Thondapalli (NS-23/AP) | Andhra Pradesh | 7 | 23.1 | 71.57 | NHAI |
| 2 | Vijayawada-Gundugolanu Section | Andhra Pradesh | 5 | 103.59 | 1684 | BOT |
| 3 | Six Laning of Nellore-Chilkaluripet | Andhra Pradesh | 5 | 183.52 | 1535 | BOT |
| 4 | Six-Laning of Gundugolanu Rajamundry | Andhra Pradesh | 5 | 120.741 | 1617 | BOT |
| 5 | Six-Laning of Anandapuram-Visakapatnam-Anakapalli | Andhra Pradesh | 5 | 58.222 | 839 | BOT |
| 6 | Chilkaluripet - Vijayawada (Six lane) | Andhra Pradesh | 5 | 82.5 | 572.3 | BOT |
| 7 | Vijayawada-Machhlipatnam | Andhra Pradesh | 9 | 64.611 | 606 | BOT |
| 8 | Kudapa-Mydukur-Kurnool | Andhra Pradesh | 18 | 188.752 | 1585 | BOT |
| 9 | Nalbari to Bijni (AS-6) | Assam | 31 | 25 | 225 | NHAI |
| 10 | Nalbari to Bijni (AS-7) | Assam | 31 | 27.3 | 208 | NHAI |
| 11 | Brahmputra Bridge (AS-28) | Assam | 31 | 5 | 217.61 | NHAI |
| 12 | Bijni to Assam/WB Border (AS-10) | Assam | 31C | 33 | 237.8 | NHAI |
| 13 | Bijni to Assam/WB Border (AS-11) | Assam | 31C | 30 | 195 | NHAI |
| 14 | Bijni to Assam/WB Border (AS-12) | Assam | 31C | 30 | 230 | NHAI |
| 15 | Guwahati to Nalbari (AS-4) | Assam | 31 | 28 | 175.96 | NHAI |
| 16 | Guwahati to Nalbari (AS-5) | Assam | 31 | 28 | 198.16 | NHAI |
| 17 | Silchar-Udarband (AS-1) | Assam | 54 | 32 | 154.57 | NHAI |
| 18 | Harangajo to Maibang (AS-21) | Assam | 54 | 26 | 386.1 | NHAI |
| 19 | Harangajo to Maibang (AS-22) | Assam | 54 | 24 | 363.74 | NHAI |
| 20 | Harangajo to Maibang (AS-23) | Assam | 54 | 16 | 280 | NHAI |
| 21 | Maibang to Lumding (AS-27) | Assam | 54 | 21 | 200 | NHAI |
| 22 | Maibang to Lumding (AS-26) | Assam | 54 | 23 | 167.64 | NHAI |
| 23 | Maibang to Lumding (AS-25) | Assam | 54 | 28 | 385.13 | NHAI |
| 24 | Maibang to Lumding (AS-24) | Assam | 54 | 15 | 280.13 | NHAI |
| 25 | Dharamtul to Sonapur (AS-19) | Assam | 37 | 25.5 | 200 | NHAI |
| 26 | Dharamtul to Sonapur (AS-20) |