Nitin Gadkari Unveils Ambitious Infrastructure Plans
Nitin Gadkari Unveils Ambitious Infrastructure Plans
10/August/2024
In a thorough update presented in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, detailed the extensive initiatives undertaken by his Ministry regarding the development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). The Ministry is tasked with the ongoing maintenance and improvement of NHs, which encompasses various activities such as evaluation, correction, and enhancement of road conditions.
Ensuring Accountability Through Improved Maintenance Systems
To promote accountability, the Ministry has implemented a system for the Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of National Highway sections. For segments that are under development or overseen by Operation, Maintenance, and Transfer (OMT) Concessions or Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Contracts, the responsibility falls on the respective Concessionaires or Contractors until the Defect Liability Period (DLP) concludes. For other segments, maintenance is handled through Performance Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) or Short Term Maintenance Contracts (STMC), guaranteeing that every NH section has contractual maintenance supervision in place.
The Ministry works in partnership with several executing agencies, including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), as well as state-level Public Works Departments (PWDs) and Road Construction Departments (RCDs). These agencies are vital in keeping the National Highways in a traffic-ready state by tackling deficiencies, repairing damages, and improving infrastructure.
Key factors taken into account in National Highway development projects include rainfall, flood levels, terrain, and soil types. Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) integrate these elements to ensure the efficient design and construction of drainage systems and cross drainage structures, such as culverts and bridges.
