**Executive Summary**
This document addresses Starred Question No. 264 in Lok Sabha regarding the maintenance and operation of National Highway No. 9 (Hisar to Dabwali). It details the upgrade, maintenance, toll collection, and safety measures taken on the specified section of the highway. The document was answered on December 18, 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Highway Upgrade and Construction:**
* The Hisar-Dabwali section of NH-9 (approximately 145 km) was upgraded to a 4-lane standard under the National Highways Development Programme (NHDP) Phase-IVB using the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) mode.
* The 4-laning of this section was completed in 2017.
* **Maintenance and Operation:**
* The stretch is currently under operation and maintenance by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) through a Performance Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC), effective from April 1, 2025.
* Maintenance is carried out by the PBMC contractor.
* Past water logging and pothole issues have been resolved.
* **Toll Collection:**
* User fees are collected at three fee plazas on the Hisar-Dabwali section of NH-9:
* Landhri (Agroha)
* Bhavdeen (Sirsa)
* Khuian Malkana (Dabwali)
* NHAI collects user fees through separate user fee collection agencies.
* **Maintenance Works:**
* Routine and periodic maintenance (including highway lighting, pothole repair, road safety items, bituminous overlay) are carried out by the PBMC contractor.
* All requisite arrangements such as highway lighting, signboards, and road markings have been provided to mitigate potential road accidents.
* **Safety Measures:**
* One blackspot has been identified in village Kherekan (HR-05-44) in district Sirsa.
* Short-term measures have been taken at the blackspot.
* Construction of a six-lane Vehicular Under Pass (VUP) as a long-term measure has been sanctioned separately.
**Impact Analysis**
**Highway Users**
*Impact*
Highway users will experience improved road conditions due to regular maintenance and upgrades, as well as potential delays when passing toll plazas.
*Action Required*
Users should be prepared to pay toll fees at the designated plazas and observe traffic safety guidelines.
**NHAI and PBMC Contractor**
*Impact*
NHAI is responsible for overseeing the operation and maintenance of the highway through the PBMC contractor. The PBMC contractor is directly responsible for carrying out maintenance activities.
*Action Required*
NHAI should ensure compliance with the PBMC contract and quality of work. The PBMC contractor must execute the maintenance as per the contract terms and address any emerging issues promptly.
**Local Residents (Village Kherekan)**
*Impact*
Local residents are expected to benefit from improved safety due to measures taken at the identified blackspot and the construction of a VUP.
*Action Required*
Residents should cooperate with the construction of the VUP and adhere to any revised traffic patterns during and after the construction.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): The agency responsible for the maintenance and operation of National Highway No. 9.
National Highway No. 9 (NH-9): The specific highway subject to maintenance and operation inquiries.
Hisar: Location (city) central to the applicability of the policy regarding NH-9.
Dabwali: Location (city) central to the applicability of the policy regarding NH-9.
Performance Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC): The type of contract used for maintaining the project highway.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 264
ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2025
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF NH-9
264. KUMARI SELJA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the maintenance and operation of National Highway No. 9
(Hisar to Dabwali, approximately 150 kilometres) has been entrusted to a
private company or is being managed directly by the National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI), if so, the details thereof;
(b) the scheme or model under which the said highway was constructed
such as Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT), Public-Private Partnership (PPP) or
direct execution by NHAI;
(c) whether toll is being collected at four different locations on this
highway and if so, whether basic facilities such as road maintenance,
lighting and improvements at accident-prone spots have not been
adequately provided, if so, the details thereof; and
(d) whether the responsibility for the upkeep, lighting infrastructure and
safety improvements on this highway has been entrusted to the concerned
private company or is being done by NHAI, if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the Table of the House.STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (d) OF LOK SABHA
STARRED QUESTION NO. 264 ANSWERED ON 18TH DECEMBER, 2025 ASKED
BY KUMARI SELJA REGARDING ‘MAINTENANCE AND OPERATION OF NH-9’.
(a) to (d) The Hisar-Dabwali section of NH-9 having length of about 145 km
has been upgraded to 4-lane standard on Engineering, Procurement and
Construction (EPC) mode under National Highways Development Programme
(NHDP) Phase-IVB. 4-laning of this stretch was completed in the year 2017.
Presently, the stretch is under operation and maintenance
by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) through its maintenance
contractor engaged on Performance Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC)
with effect from 01.04.2025. The maintenance of the project highway is
being carried out by the PBMC contractor. During monsoon period, there
were issues relating to water logging and pothole repairs, whch has been
resolved.
Fee is being collected from the users at following 3 Nos. of Fee Plazas on
Hisar-Dabwali section of NH-9:
(i) Landhri (Agroha)
(ii) Bhavdeen (Sirsa)
(iii) Khuian Malkana (Dabwali)
The user fee on the above Public Funded Fee Plazas is being collected
by the NHAI through separate user fee collection agencies. The routine
maintenance works, initial rectification works as well as periodic
maintenance (including the works related to highway lighting, pothole
repair, road safety items, bituminous overlay etc.) of the highway, is being
carried out by the PBMC contractor.
All the requisite arrangements such as highway lighting, signboards,
road markings etc. have been provided to mitigate any potential road
accidents.
There is one identified Blackspot in village Kherekan (HR-05-44)
district Sirsa on this stretch. The short-term measures have been already
taken up on the Blackspot. Further, the work of construction of six lane
Vehicular Under Pass (VUP) as long-term measure sanctioned separately.
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