The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs) in the country. NHs comprises only 1.7% total road network and carry about 40% of the road traffic. At present, total length of NHs in the country is 71,772 km. About 22 per cent of the total length of National Highways (NHs) is single lane/intermediate lane, about 53 per cent is two lane standard and the balance 25 per cent is four lane standard or more. The development and maintenance works are being implemented on agency basis. The State Governments (State PWDs), Border Roads Organization (BRO) and National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) are the implementing agencies. The Government has embarked on a major programme – National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) for development of NHs being implemented mainly by NHAI. In 2011-12, the achievement under various phases of the NHDP upto November, 2011 has been about 1036 km. During 2011-12, NHDP projects have been awarded for a total length of about 4083 km up to November, 2011.
Besides NHDP, the Ministry has approved 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), Special Programme for 2-laning and development of NHs.
Improvement of Road Connectivity In Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Areas
Government has approved a scheme for development of about 1,125 km of National Highways and 4,352 km of state roads in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected areas as a special project estimated to cost about Rs. 7,300 crore. During the calendar year 2011, works in a length of 1127 km costing Rs 1593 crore have been awarded upto November, 2011.
Government has also approved a scheme for development of 600 km of state roads in Vijayawada-Ranchi route in Odisha at a cost of Rs. 1200 crore. During the calendar year 2011, works in a length of 198 km costing Rs 337 crore have been awarded upto November, 2011.
Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for North-East region (SARDP-NE)
The scheme has been envisaged to be taken up under three parts as under – Phase ‘A’ of SARDP-NE approved by the Government envisages improvement of about 4,099 km length of roads (2041 km of NH and 2058 km of state roads) and is expected to be completed by March, 2017.
· Length sanctioned & awarded during the calendar year up to November, 2011 – 91 km.
· Length completed during the calendar year up to November, 2011 – 10 km.
· Work in progress as on 30th November, 2011 is 1608 km.
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 so far, DPRs for about 450 km have been completed.
Special Package for Arunachal Pradesh involves development of about 2319 km length of road (1,472 km of NHs & 847 km of State/General Staff/Strategic Roads). Projects on 776 km are to be taken up on BOT (Annuity) mode and the balance 1,543 km is to be developed on EPC basis. The entire Arunachal package is targeted for completion by June, 2015.
Length sanctioned & awarded during the calendar year and work in progress as on 30th November, 2011 – 311 km
Special Programme For 2-Laning Of Entire Balance NH Network
Ministry has taken initiatives to develop 6,700 km of single lane/intermediate lane National Highways to minimum 2 lane standards on 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 calendar year 2011, works in a length of 699 km costing Rs 1,675 crore have been awarded.
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 targeted to be completed by March, 2012.
Development of NHs through annual plans for NHs entrusted with state PWDs which are not covered under any approved Programme such as NHDP, SARDP-NE etc.
PMRP for Jammu & Kashmir
The Prime Minister announced a Reconstruction Plan (PMRP) for J&K during in his visit to the state in November 2004. There are total seven works amounting to Rs. 3300 Cr. (approx.) under PMRP, namely construction of Mughal Road, Widening of Domel-Katra road (NH-1C), Double- laning of Batote-Kishtwar-Sinthanpass-Anantnag Road (NH-1B, upgrading Srinagar-Uri Road (NH-1A), construction of Khanabal-Pahalgam Road, Construction of Narbal-Tangmarg Road and double laning of Srinagar-Kargil-Leh Road (NH-1D). Till now, around Rs. 2300 Cr expenditure has already been incurred. Besides Rs. 243 Cr. has been allocated for J&K for the works being executed on National Highways through BRO. Rs. 121 Cr has also allocated for the works on the State & ODR roads under CRF & ISC/EI.
Launch Of National Register And Release Of National Transport Portal
In order to introduce information technology as a part of e-Governance Programme in the Road Transport Sector and to ensure uniformity and inter-operability throughout the country, the Government sanctioned a project for creation of National Register and State Registers of driving licenses and registration certificate of motor vehicles at an estimated cost of Rs 148 crores. The Ministry also developed standardized software in consultation with National Informatics Centre (NIC) and made it available to all the States free-of-cost. The software covered both back-end automation of Road Transport Offices (RTOs) and front-end computerization to enable issuance of documents such as, driving license, registration certificates, etc. in a smart card mode.
At present, VAHAN (for registration certificate) and SARATHI (for driving license) operation in 33 States / UTs and 100% computerization has been achieved in 31 States / UTs. Out of 975 RTOs, 942 RTOs have been computerized. Customization of standard software as per State requirement of the State is complete for all 35 States / UTs and the software is running at least at pilot site in each State / UT. 100% connectivity has been achieved in 31 States / UTs and 890 RTOs connected. The release of National Register and launch of the National Transport Portal took place in July, 2011. The State Register will act as a repository at the State level providing information to State Transport Department, RTO, automobile dealers, Police Department and other Government to citizen services. Data from the State Registers will flow to the National Register. This will enable users to avail the services on “Anywhere Service” basis. In addition, National Register will provide information to the Ministry, RTOs, inter-State check posts, Police Departments, etc.
New National Permit Scheme
In order to facilitate inter-State seamless movement of goods carriages, a new National Permit System has been implemented in all States / UTs. As per the new arrangement, national permit can be granted by the Home State on payment of Rs 1,000/- as home State authorization fee and Rs 15,000/- per annum per truck towards consolidated fee authorizing the permit holder to operate throughout the country. The new national permit system has also been implemented electronically through a web portal developed by NIC.
Under the new National Permit Scheme, the consolidated fee collected by the Central Government through State Bank of India is distributed among the States / UTs on a pro-rata basis as per agreed formula.
The new National Permit System is being implemented successfully by all States / UTs and has been welcomed by the transporters and States as a significant step towards improvement in road transport system in the country.
E-Procurement & E-Tendering
In order to improve transparency and accountability, Ministry has switched to e-procurement and e-tendering for all types of projects including BOT since July, 2011. In e-tendering mode, 101 tenders have been floated by NHAI till 30-11-2011 of which, 21 tenders of BOT, 55 tenders are for tolling on Reverse Auction and others of varied nature.
Facebook
Public grievances redressal system of Ministry made interactive with the help of user-friendly social networking site, viz, Face Book (available at http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Highways-Authority-of-India/1865851480 28027). Between January and November, 2011, more than 4 lacs persons have visited this site and about 3000 have registered themselves. Officers are regularly replying to the public queries directly on the Facebook wall. Concessionaires of BOT projects have been advised to provide link to their sites on NHAI Facebook wall – for quick response to road-users. (PIB Feature).
Inputs from the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.
Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/improving-road-transport/
