Centre approves ₹9,599 cr for National Highway maintenance in FY25

New Delhi: The Centre has approved a total of Rs 9,599 crore for the maintenance of the National Highways (NH) network in the fiscal year 2025 (FY25), as announced by Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, on Thursday. The approval includes short-term maintenance contract (STMC) works for 17,884 km of NHs, costing Rs 2,842 crore, and performance-based maintenance contract (PBMC) works for 6,118 km of NHs, amounting to Rs 6,757 crore.

In a statement to the Lok Sabha, Gadkari emphasized the government's commitment to maintaining the existing NH network and ensuring its repair through accountable maintenance agencies. Currently, 1,310 NH projects covering a total of 31,187 km, with an investment of Rs 8.11 lakh crore, are under construction across the country.

The STMC contracts typically last 1-2 years, while PBMC contracts span 5-7 years. The government encourages the use of innovative technologies and methods to improve the durability of highways and reduce maintenance needs, taking factors such as rainfall, terrain, and soil type into consideration.

A comprehensive road condition assessment is conducted using a Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) before, during, and after the completion of each project, with follow-up evaluations every six months. This process ensures regular quality assessments for the NH stretches.

Additionally, the installation of the Advanced Traffic Management System (ATMS) on four-lane and larger NHs is underway. This system includes electronic enforcement devices that assist in quickly identifying incidents and traffic violations, improving response times, and enhancing road safety.

Regarding road safety, the government has undertaken significant work to address black spots on NHs. Out of the 13,795 black spots identified up to 2021-22, short-term rectification measures have been completed for 11,515, and permanent solutions have been implemented for 5,036 black spots.

With IANS inputs