Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
i) The Government of India launched in December 2000, the programme of village connectivity known as Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) with the objective of connecting all unconnected habitations having a population of 500 and above with allweather roads.
ii) The population threshold is relaxed to 250 in case of hill, tribal and desert areas. In departure from the earlier programmes of rural road development, the PMGSY is a hundred percent funded programme of the central government.
iii) The Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) has been entrusted with the task of implementing this programme. The National Rural Development Agency (NRRDA) – an arm of the Ministry provides management and technical support to this programme.
iv) The Ministry of Rural Development has already brought out dedicated specifications for rural roads and Standard Data Book with the support of the Indian Roads Congress. This has helped in setting national standards and specifications for rural roads at national level for uniform implementation at local level duly taking into account different terrain, soil and traffic conditions in the country.
v) As per the current guidelines, the PMGSY covers all habitations above 500 population to be provided with all-weather rural roads. In case of hills, deserts and tribal areas, the threshold is relaxed and over all habitations above 250 population.
vi) It is estimated that about 1.79 lakh unconnected habitations need to be taken up under the PMGSY programme. This would involve new construction in a length of about 375,000 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 78,000 crore and improvements of 372,000 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 59,000 crore.
vii) Up to the end of December, 2006, a total of about 83,000 habitations have been covered and rural road works for an amount of Rs.38,387 crore have been sanctioned.
NHAI:
"The National Highways Authority of India was constituted by an act of Parliament, the National Highways Authority of India Act, 1988. It is responsible for the development, maintenance and management of National Highways entrusted to it and for matters connected or incidental thereto. The Authority was operationalized in February, 1995 with the appointment of full time Chairman and other Members. "
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is mandated to implement National Highways Development Project (NHDP) which is
1.India 's Largest ever highways project
2.World class roads with uninterrupted traffic flow
The National Highways have a total length of 71,772 km to serve as the arterial network of the country. The development of National Highways is the responsibility of the Government of India. The Government of India has launched major initiatives to upgrade and strengthen National Highways through various phases of National Highways Development project (NHDP), which are briefly as under:
NHDP Phase I : NHDP Phase I was approved by Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) in December 2000 at an estimated cost of Rs.30,000 crore comprises mostly of GQ (5,846 km) and NS-EW Corridor (981km), port connectivity (356 km) and others (315 km).
NHDP Phase II : NHDP Phase II was approved by CCEA in December 2003 at an estimated cost of Rs.34,339 crore (2002 prices) comprises mostly NS-EW Corridor (6,161 km) and other National Highways of 486 km length, the total length being 6,647 km. The total length of Phase II is 6,647 km.
NHDP Phase-III: Government approved on 5.3.2005 up gradation and 4 laning of 4,035 km of National Highways on BOT basis at an estimated cost of Rs. 22,207 crores (2004 prices). Government approved in April 2007 upgradation and 4 laning at 8074 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 54,339 crore.
NHDP Phase V: CCEA has approved on 5.10.2006 six laning of 6,500 km of existing 4 lane highways under NHDP Phase V (on DBFO basis). Six laning of 6,500 km includes 5,700 km of GQ and other stretches.
NHDP Phase VI: CCEA has approved on November 2006 for 1000 km of expressways at an estimated cost of Rs. 16680 crs . NHDP Phase VII: CCEA has approved on December 2007 for 700 km of Ring Roads, Bypasses and flyovers and selected stretches at an estimated cost of Rs. 16680 crs
MORTH
An apex organisation under the Central Government is entrusted with the task of formulating and administering, in consultation with other Central Ministries/Departments, State Governments/UT Administrations, organisations and individuals, policies for Road Transport, National Highways and Transport Research with a view to increasing the mobility and efficiency of the road transport system in the country. The Ministry has two wings: Roads wing and Transport wing.
Roads Wing
Deals with development and maintenance of National Highway in the country
Main Responsibilities:
1.Planning, development and maintenance of National Highways in the country.
2. Extends technical and financial support to State Governments for the development of state roads and the roads of inter-state connectivity and economic importance 3.Evolves standard specifications for roads and bridges in the country.
4.Serves as a repository of technical knowledge on roads and bridges.
Transport Wing
Deals with matter relating to Road Transport
Main Responsibilities:
1. Motor Vehicle legislation.
2.Administration of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
3.Taxation of motor vehicles.
4.Compulsory insurance of motor vehicles.
5.Administration of the Road Transport Corporations Act, 1950.
6.And promotion of Transport co-operatives in the field of motor transport.
7. Evolves road safety standards in the form of a National Policy on Road Safety and by preparing and implementing the Annual Road Safety Plan.
8.Collects, compiles and analyses road accident statistics and takes steps for developing a Road Safety Culture in the country by involving the members of public and organising various awareness campaigns.
9.Provides grants-in-aid to Non-Governmental Organisations in accordance with the laid down guidelines
The Karnataka State Highways Impovment Project (KSHIP):
It is an initiative of the Public Works Department of the Government of Karnataka for improvement of road network of the state with World Bank assistance. The Public Works Department carried out Strategic Option Study (SOS) during 1996 on a road network of 13,362 kms comprising State Highways and Major District Roads and the study identified 2888 kms of roads for prioritized improvements.
The World Bank have extended Technical Assistance (T.A.) Loan of US $ 3.2 million for project preparation through the Department of Economic Affairs of Ministry of Finance, Government of India for taking up the Project Coordinating Consultancy (PCC) Services to investigate and prepare detailed project report on the 2888 kms and Institutional Development Strategy (IDS) Study.
The works relating to upgrading and widening of 992 Km will be implemented in eight contract packages under International Competitive Bidding (ICB), where the contract values range from Rs.35 crores to Rs.205 crores. The work relating to rehabilitation and upgradation contracts of smaller value ranging from Rs.3 Crores to Rs.38 Crores will be procured under National Competitive Bidding (NCB).
Karnataka Road Development Corporation (KRDCL)
i) It was incorporated on 21st of July 1999 as a wholly owned Government of Karnataka Company as per the Provisions of the Company's Act, 1956.
ii) KRDCL is a company under the Public Works, Ports & Inland Water Transport Department.
iii) This Company was established to promote surface infrastructure by taking up Road Works, Bridges etc., and to improve road network by taking up construction widening and strengthening of roads, construction of bridges, maintenance of roads etc., and to take up projects on BOT, BOOT, BOLT.
iv) Since inception Karnataka Road Development Corporation Limited has strived to improve the road network and to establish connectivity to all the nook & corner of the State.
