Road Transport is considered to be one of the most cost effective and preferred mode of transport, both for freight and passengers, keeping in view its level of. penetration into populated areas.
Thus, it is vital for economic development and social integration of the country. Road Transport has emerged as the dominant segment in India’s transportation sector with a share of 4.5% in India’s GDP in 2005-06.
The Road Transport Sector accounts for about 87% of passenger traffic and 60% of freight traffic movement in the country.
Easy availability, adaptability to individual needs and the cost savings are some of the factors which go in favour of road transport. Road transport also acts as a feeder service to railway,shipping and air traffic.
Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase-I comprising of 24,800 km. of various categories of roads and about 10,000 km. of residual NHDP projects has been approved at a cost of Rs. 5.35 Lakh Crore. As of now about 23,500 km. has been awarded and about 11,400 km. has been completed. The balance projects are targeted for award by Financial Year 2024-25.
The development of any nation depends on the transportation networks and the ways in which they are being maintained. The same holds true for the development of a huge and populous nation like India.
For connecting the areas and maintaining smooth flow of traffic, the construction of new and developed roads are a must. The same will be achieved with the implementation of the Bharatmala project. Under the scheme, a host of new roads will be laid down in the nation.
Bharatmala Pariyojana is a new umbrella program for the highways sector that focuses on optimizing efficiency of freight and passenger movement across the country by bridging critical infrastructure gaps through effective interventions like development of Economic Corridors, Inter Corridors and Feeder Routes, National Corridor Efficiency Improvement, Border and International connectivity roads, Coastal and Port connectivity roads and Green-field expressways.
All key aspects of the scheme will be managed by the Road Transport and Highways Ministry of the country.
Improvement in efficiency of existing corridors through development of Multimodal Logistics Parks and elimination of choke point
Enhance focus on improving connectivity in North East and leveraging synergies with Inland Waterways
Emphasis on use of technology & scientific planning for Project Preparation and Asset Monitoring
Delegation of powers to expedite project delivery - Phase I to complete by 2022
Improving connectivity in the North East
Improving the quality of roads - The launch of the scheme has been done for bring a new wave of development in the nation in the form of well-maintained and developed roads. Under this project, the construction of roads, in all parts of the nation will be undertaken.
Total road construction - As per the draft of the scheme, government and the ministry will strive to complete new roads, which will add up to a whopping 34, 800 kms.
Integrated scheme - The Bharatmala is the name that is given to the road development and it will include many other related schemes as well. With the completion of all the schemes, the overall success of the scheme will be guaranteed.
Total tenure of the program -The central government has the plans of finishing the scheme within a span of five years. Thus, all is set for finishing the first phase before the end of 2022.
Segmentation in phases - Due to the sheer magnitude and spread of the scheme, it will be divided into seven distinct phases. As of now, the first phase in under construction.
Construction on a daily basis - To finish the first phase in time, the respective department has made efforts of constructing at least 18 km of path on a daily basis. To beat the clock, continued efforts are being made to raise it to 30 km/day.
Different categories of road construction - It has been highlighted in the official draft of the scheme that to provide better connectivity, the construction of various categories of roads will be undertaken.
Multi-source of finding - One source will not be enough for funding a mammoth project. Thus, the government will have to depend on other sources for generating adequate money to meet the expenses.
Budget Allocation- A total of around 24,800 kms are being considered in Phase I of Bharatmala. In addition, Bharatmala Pariyojana phase -I also includes 10,000 kms of balance road works under NHDP, taking the total to 34,800 kms at an estimated cost of Rs.5,35,000 crore.
Bharatmala Phase I - is to be implemented over a five years period of i.e. 2017-18 to 2021-22.
Economic Corridor - As per the guidelines of the road construction project, the construction of 9000kms of Economic Corridors will be undertaken by the central government.
Feeder Route or Inter Corridor - The total length of the roads, which fall under the Feeder Route or Inter Corridor category, is a whopping 6000kms. National Corridor Efficiency Improvement - 5000kms of roads, constructed under the scheme will fall in the category of National Corridor for the better connection between roads.
Border Road and International Connectivity - Connecting the cities and remote areas, which are situated in the border regions, the project has kept provision for constructing 2000kms roads that fall in the Border Road or International Connectivity category.
Port Connectivity and Coastal Road - To connect the areas that are dotted along the shorelines and important ports, the central government has ordered the construction of 2000km of roads.
Green Field Expressway - The main stress will be given on the construction and development of Green Field Expressway for better management of traffic and freight.
Balance NHDP Works - Under the last segment, the project will see a construction and maintenance of about 10,000kms of new roads.
Projects which are not part of Bharatmala Pariyojana Phase I - If any such project is proposed by the State or is otherwise considered necessary and expedient to build including Ring Road or Bypass which is not part of the Bharatmala shelf of Projects; such a new project is to be taken up for consideration by MoRTH only if the State/Agency is ready to bear at least 50% cost of land acquisition.
MoRTH will conduct a due consultation with Ministry of Finance and other concerned Departments/Ministries. The Grand Challenge mechanism would still apply for similar offers from more than one state/Agency.
NHAI Board (Authority) is to be expanded to include CEO, NITI Aayog as a part-time member. Now, the part-time members of the Board will include the following:-
Secretary, Department of Expenditure
CEO, NITI Aayog
Secretary, Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
Director General (RD) & Special Secretary, MoRTH
Within the Bharatmala Pariyojana, 10% funds are to be kept earmarked to take up projects under the Grand Challenge mechanism on reducing balance basis vis-à-vis annual fund allocation for the Bharatmala Pariyojana to take up projects on fast track basis where sufficient and timely land is made available by the State Government as per norms of MoRTH.
Under the Grand Challenge Mechanism, a maximum of two stretches of roads not exceeding 100 kms are to be allowed from any one State in a particular financial year.
States are to indicate their preference for a stretch from the final list of the roads included in the Bharatmala Pariyojana in the month of April every year.
The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, declare any other highway to be a national highway and on the publication of such notification such highway shall be deemed to be specified in the Schedule.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) was constituted by an Act of Parliament in 1988 under the administrative control of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
NHAI has been set up as a Central Authority to develop, maintain and manage the National Highways entrusted to it by the Government of India.
The authority, however, became operational in February, 1995.
The Authority consists of a full time Chairman, and not more than five full time Members and four part time Members who are appointed by the Central Government. The part time Members are the Secretary (RT&H), Secretary (Expenditure), Secretary (Planning) and DG (RD) & SS.
NHAI has technical, Finance, Administrative and Vigilance Wings at its Headquarters. Project implementation Units (PIUs) headed by a Project Director and supported by various technical and accounts officers have been set up at various sites to oversee timely completion of the projects.
Indian Academy of Highway Engineers (formerly NITHE) The Academy is the Premium National Training Institute for sharing of knowledge and pooling of experience on the entire range of subjects dealing with the construction and maintenance of roads; bridges; tunnels and road transportation including technology, equipment, research, planning, finance, taxation, organization and all connected policy issues. In more specific terms, the objectives of the Academy are:
To impart training to professionals of Highway Sector at entry level and during service at different levels of Central & State Govts., Public and Private sectors.
To help highway sector engineers build up character and develop an all-round personality as a part of Human Resource Development.
To assist various organizations in developing their training institutes and training of their faculty.
To promote co-operation and foster exchange of knowledge, ideas and experience in all the sphere of highway engineering among engineers in India and Abroad.
Imparts training to Highway Professionals from various Afro-Asian countries, Countries under SAARC, Technical Cooperation Scheme (TCS) Colombo Plan, India Africa Forum Summit (IAFS), India Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC), ASEAN-India Fund (AIF).
National Highways Connectivity Company Ltd. was set up under Companies Act, 2013. The name of the company was subsequently changed to National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd. and started functioning w.e.f. 18.07.2014.
NHIDCL under the MORTH dedicated exclusively to the task of constructing/upgrading/widening of National Highways in parts of the country which shares international boundaries with neighbouring countries in order to promote regional connectivity on a substantial basis.
Secretary (RT&H) is the ex-officio Chairman of the company.
The Board of Directors consists of one Managing Director, Additional Director General is the ex-officio Director (Tech.), one Director (Finance/Administration) and three independent part-time Directors to oversee timely completion of the projects
The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi, today launched “Setu Bharatam” – an ambitious programme with an investment of Rs. 50,000 crore to build bridges for safe and seamless travel on National Highways.
The programme aims at making all national highways Railway Level Crossing free by 2019.208 new “road over bridges / road under bridges” are envisaged for construction, while 1500 bridges will be widened, rehabilitated or replaced.