NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

The National Highway roads serve as through corridors for the movement of people and freight across State capitals, major ports, industrial areas and connecting popular tourist destinations of the nation. These roads are therefore subjected to heavy traffic intensity.

The length of National Highways in the State of Tamil Nadu is 6634 km. As per gazette dt.15.05.2020 1500 km length of NHs are maintained by state National Highways wing and the balance 5134 km are maintained by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The Tamil Nadu National Highways wing is headed by Chief Engineer who administratively controls four circles and thirteen divisions and four Quality control divisions.

The works such as improvements, widening the carriageway to two lane / two lane with paved shoulders / four lane / multi-lane, strengthening, construction of bridges and maintenance of NHs are being carried out by this wing.

Major functionaries of the National Highways :

National Highways Works

• Plan Works
• Non-Plan Works like Periodic Renewal (PR) / Improvement of Riding Quality Program (IRQP)/ Special Repairs (SR)
• Road Safety works
• Flood Damage Restoration Works (FDR)

Centrally Sponsored Scheme works

• Revamped Central Road Fund Scheme (RCRF).
• Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
• Inter State Connectivity Scheme (ISC) & Economic Importance (EI) Scheme.

National Highways works

The National Highways works comprises of Improvement and Maintenance works which are exclusively funded by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRT&H), Government of India.

1.1. National Highways - Plan works

Under Annual Plan, during 2019-20, 101.38 km of length have been completed. The expenditure incurred is Rs. 423.10 Crore. In the financial year 2020-21, 64 works for a length of 255.26 km amounting to Rs.1435.19 crore was taken as spillover. The MoRT&H, has allocated sanction ceiling Rs.1138.000 Crore under Annual Plan 2020-21. 11 works of length 114.425 km for an amount of Rs.715.85 Cr has been sanctioned by the Ministry under Annual Plan 2020-21. As on 30.09.2020, 96.34 km of road length have been completed. An expenditure of Rs. 305.84 Crore has been incurred.

The following are a few major works which have been completed / under implementation in plan works.

Table 1. Completed projects :

Table 2. Projects under implementation :

1.2. Periodical Renewal (PR)/ Improvement of Riding Quality programme (IRQP) Works

In 2019-20, 13 no. of works for improvement of 98.61 km at a cost of Rs.90.93 Crore has been sanctioned by the Ministry. Of this, 10 road works of length 56.40 km is completed. An expenditure of Rs.40.00 Crore has been incurred upto September 2020.

1.3. Road Safety works:

In December 2019, the Government of India, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had communicated 748 black spot location in National Highways stretches in Tamil Nadu state.

Total no. of black spots - 748 nos.

i) With state NH - 207 nos.

ii) With NHAI & others - 541 nos.

The status of black spots under state NH wing is as follows,

• Permanently Rectified – 22 no.
• Temporary rectification measures done - 111 no.
• Rectification under progress in on-going schemes – 26 no.
• In 2019-20, Ministry has accorded sanction for 19 spots for an amount of Rs. 55.07 Cr and the works are in progress.
• In 2020-21, Ministry has accorded sanction for 21 spots for an amount of Rs. 97.60 Cr and the works are in tender stage.
• Further proposals for permanent rectification of 30 no. of black spot locations were sent to the Ministry and the work will be taken up after getting sanction.

The remaining black spots are prioritized and proposals are being formulated.

1.4. Flood Damage Restoration works (FDR)

The temporary rectification works such as removal of earth slips, wind fallen trees and permanent repair works for damages caused due to rainfalls / floods are done at due course of time to ensure traffic worthiness.

Centrally Sponsored Schemes :

The Central Government created Central Road Fund as a non-lapsable fund under Central Road and Infrastructure Fund Act, 2000, which is procured out of the cess/tax imposed on the consumption of petrol and diesel. Funds are distributed to the State for developments of Roads. The accrual of funds is distributed to the States annually, on the basis of 30% weightage to fuel consumption and 70% weightage to the geographical area of the State.

In CRF and Bharat Nirman (maintenance fund), an expenditure of Rs.1052.65 crore has been incurred during 2019-20. Moreover, an allocation of Rs.930.39 crore has been made for implementation under centrally sponsored schemes during 2020-21.

2.1. Revamped Central Road Fund Scheme (RCRF) :

Under RCRF Scheme, 38 road works to a length of 235.31 km and 13 bridge works at cost of Rs. 1596.06 crore were taken up in this financial year 2020-21 as spill over. Of this, 12 road works of length 114.68 km and 3 bridge works have been completed at an expenditure of Rs. 498.53 Crore till September 2020. The remaining works are in progress.

The important projects are as follows,

Table 3. List of projects to decongest the traffic in and around the important cities of Chennai, Madurai and

The aim of the above projects is to decongest the burgeoning vehicular traffic along NH-45 (suburbs of Chennai city, Madurai & Coimbatore city) by widening and improving the feeder roads and construction of fly-overs.

2.2. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY):

Apart from above, the Central Government provides fund for improving Rural Roads under PMGSY Scheme. PMGSY has been launched by the GoI for providing connectivity to unconnected habitations as part of poverty alleviation. The requisite funds for the scheme are derived from the accrual under CRF Cess. The GoI endeavours to set-forth high and uniform technical standards and facilitate policy development at State level to ensure continuous maintenance of the rural road network. The works have been taken-up in a phased manner under this scheme. The works of PMGSY-I & PMGSY II are completed in all respects and are in maintenance stage.

2.3. Inter State Connectivity Scheme (ISC) :

ISC scheme includes the works for enhancing the connectivity of roads between the states with the funds provided by GoI from Central Road Fund. Widening of Chellampalayam – Bargur – Kollegal road for 41.20km length at a cost of Rs.72.91 Cr is under progress. 12.60 km length has been completed.

3. OTHER ACTIVITIES

3.1. Works taken-up in NHAI roads by State NH :

3.1.1. Widening of NH-45 between Irumbuliyur and Vandalur

In order to address the huge traffic congestion in Chennai Suburban areas, as an immediate remedial measure, the work for widening between Irumbuliyur to Vandalur (2.30 km) to 8-lane standards, at a cost of Rs.20.77 crore has been got approved by the NHAI and the work is completed.

3.1.2. Widening of NH-45 between Vandalur and Guduvanchery

In continuation of the improvement works being taken-up between Irumbuliyur - Vandalur, improvements from Vandalur – Guduvanchery (5.3 km) at a cost of Rs.44.48 crore has also been approved by NHAI and the work is in progress.

3.2. SetuBharatam - Construction of ROB/RUBs in lieu of Level Crossings on National Highways

Setu Bharatam Scheme has been launched by MoRT&H, to replace Level Crossing with ROB/RUBs.

MoRT&H has engaged consultants for the preparation of DPR for the construction of 8 numbers of ROB/RUBs in Tamil Nadu to replace existing level crossings on NH. Of the above, 3 DPRs are completed and 3 DPRs are nearing completion and the remaining 2 DPRs belong to NHAI.

Table 4. List of ROB/RUBs proposed under SetuBharatam Scheme

Construction of ROB in lieu of LC-17 has been sanctioned by the Ministry under AP 2020-21 and the work is in tender stage. Approval received from the Ministry for construction of 3 ROBs (LC 109A, 68 &85) under AP 2020-21 and the work will be taken up if sanction accorded. The balance 2 ROBs under Sethubharatham (LC 503, 86) will be proposed in forthcoming Annual Plan works.

3.3. UPGRADATION AS NATIONAL HIGHWAYS:

3.3.1. Improvement of newly upgraded State Highways declared as NH

The MoRT&H, GoI has declared the following 7 State Highways of 841 km length as National Highways. Of this, improvement works for the following two roads are taken up by State NH and are in progress.

• Dindigul – Karaikudi road (NH-383)
• Salem – Tirupathur – Vaniambadi road (179A)

Improvement works for the following 5 roads are entrusted to National Highways Authority of India

• Perambalur- Athur road (NH-136)
• Thoppur - Mettur - Bhavani - Erode road (NH-544H)
• Malur–Hosur-Rayakottai-Dharmapuri-Adhiyamankottai (NH-844)
• Oragadam – Cheyyar -Thiruvannamalai-Harur (NH-179B)
• Kumbakonam – Sirkazhi (NH-136B)

3.3.2. State Highways Declared As “In-Principle” NH

The following state roads which have been declared In-Principle as NH are taken-up for preparation of DPR

Table 5 : List of State Highways declared “In-Principle” as NH

3.3.3. Roads proposed for Declaration as NH

Proposal has been sent to the Ministry to declare 16 State roads of length 1032.40 km as NH roads.

The DPR consultancy engaged and the declaration as National Highways is put on hold due to pending policy decision of the Ministry.

4. BUS PORTS:

With a view to improve the facilities for the passengers of public transport and augment with modern technological facilities, bus ports have been envisaged as a sub-component of National Corridors Efficiency Program Component of Bharatmala Pariyojana. The bus ports have been proposed at Salem, Madurai and Coimbatore.

Of this, the MoRT&H have accorded in-principle approval for construction of bus port at Salem. The field data collection viz., topographical survey soil investigation, bus count and passenger related survey has been done by NHIDCL, New Delhi by engaging consultant M/s DIMTS (Delhi Integrated Multimodel transit system Ltd.,) and draft DPR prepared. The additional requirements in bus port has been informed to NHIDCL for inclusion in DPR. On finalisation, the Salem bus port work will be implemented.

The land of Karadikkal village, Tirumangalam Taluk of Madurai District classified as “Meichal Land” has been selected for Bus port construction. Further, the proposal for preparation of DPR has been sent to NHIDCL. Now, the action is being taken to transfer the above land for construction of bus port.

The State Government have accorded Administrative sanction to Coimbatore Municipal Corporation for construction of integrated bus stand at Vellalore, in Coimbatore Corporation, vide G.O. Ms. No. 123, Municipal Administration and Water Supply (MC.II) Department dated 03.10.2019.

Therefore, the NHIDCL has been requested to withdraw the proposal for construction of integrated Busport at Coimbatore under Bharatmala Pariyojana Scheme.

5. E-GOVERNANCE:

5.1. Automation of Land Acquisition Process:

MoRT&H, in its attempt to move towards total e-governance and avoid delay, have developed a dedicated portal (BOOMI RASHI) for LA process. The portal functions as an e-platform for processing of LA related notifications and compensation to the affected parties thereto, for all National Highway projects. This portal is being utilized for uploading details of LA affected villages, e-verification by Competent Authority for Land Acquisition (CALA) and for notification by the Ministry.

5.2. Project Monitoring Information System (PMIS) e-disha :

MoRT&H has developed a Project Monitoring Information System (PMIS), e-disha, a State-of-the-art, real time project tracking and monitoring system for the effective monitoring of all ongoing projects, key issues and interventions required at all levels. The system has customized user friendly dashboards for Senior Officers to review the progress. The system is currently being used to conduct daily monitoring of active projects across different stages of execution, viz.,

• To be awarded

• Under implementation

• Detailed Project Report stage

The State NH Wing is regularly updating the dynamic data of all on-going projects. Senior Officers of MoRT&H are conducting monthly/quarterly reviews through video-conferencing, fetching the data from the dashboard of this information system for taking requisite action.

5.3. Online portal for Black Spots

An online portal/software module dedicated to Accident Black Spots (BS) & other Road Safety activities has been developed by NIC for getting the status / progress of rectification measures on black spots. All field officers shall fill the details of Immediate / Temporary repairs, Permanent repairs, photographs / Video of BS rectification works before and after rectification of black spots pertaining to them along with the details of rectification / improvement works already carried out, or proposed to be carried out. The details are filled up on a real time basis for easy monitoring.