**Executive Summary**
The document is a response to a parliamentary question regarding the maintenance of National Highways (NHs) in Tamil Nadu. It acknowledges the poor condition of some NH stretches and details the government's efforts to ensure their maintenance through various mechanisms, including contracts and quality control measures. The response also provides data on funds allocated and utilized for highway maintenance in the state over the past three years.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Maintenance Approach:**
* Maintenance and development of NHs, including those in Tamil Nadu, is a continuous process.
* The government acknowledges the condition of NH-45, NH-32 and NH-44 in Tamil Nadu.
* **Maintenance Mechanisms:**
* Maintenance and repair (M&R) are the responsibility of concessionaires/contractors for stretches under development, Operation, Maintenance and Transfer (OMT) Concessions/ Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Contracts, Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT), and Infrastructure Investment Trust (InvIT) until the end of the Defect Liability Period (DLP) or Concession Period.
* For remaining NH stretches, maintenance is undertaken through Performance-Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) or Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC).
* Repair of identified defects/issues are completed by the Contractor/Concessionaire within stipulated timelines per the contract.
* **Funding:**
* Funds allocated and utilized for NH maintenance in Tamil Nadu (excluding NHs under concession contracts or DLP) over the last three years are as follows:
* 2022-23: Allocation - ₹554 crore, Utilization - ₹554 crore
* 2023-24: Allocation - ₹340 crore, Utilization - ₹340 crore
* 2024-25: Allocation - ₹448 crore, Utilization - ₹439 crore
* **Quality Control:**
* A robust system of inspection and quality monitoring is in place, including third-party quality audits, independent engineer reviews, and periodic inspections.
* **Measures for Time-Bound and Quality Maintenance:**
* Adoption of Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) and Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC).
* Strict enforcement of quality control norms and deployment of third-party quality auditors.
* Repair of identified defects/issues through regular inspection by field officers. Penalties are imposed for non-compliance during DLP/Concession period.
* Fixing of clear timelines for maintenance activities and close monitoring through DATA LAKE portal and review meetings.
* Adherence of Indian Road Congress specifications for all maintenance works.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Concessionaires/Contractors**
**Impact:** Responsible for maintenance and repair (M&R) of NH stretches under their concession until the end of the Defect Liability Period (DLP)/Concession Period. Must complete repairs within stipulated timelines. Subject to penalties for non-compliance.
**Action Required:** Ensure adherence to contract terms for maintenance and repairs, complete work within stipulated timelines, and comply with quality control norms.
**Stakeholder: Implementing Agencies**
**Impact:** Responsible for conducting inspections, quality audits, and ensuring adherence to prescribed standards.
**Action Required:** Conduct periodic inspections and quality audits, ensure adherence to prescribed standards, and take necessary maintenance actions based on findings.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Road Transport and Highways**
**Impact:** Responsible for overall NH maintenance and repair, as well as monitoring concessionaires/contractors and implementing agencies' work.
**Action Required:** Ensure the mechanisms described in the document are followed, and to monitor and track the progress and impact of these mechanisms, ensuring accountability throughout the process.
**Stakeholder: Road Users in Tamil Nadu**
**Impact:** Directly affected by the quality and maintenance of National Highways in the state.
**Action Required:** To provide feedback and report any issues or concerns they encounter while using these roads.
Key Entities Referenced
National Highways (NHs): The primary subject of the policy, focusing on their maintenance and repair.
Tamil Nadu: The Indian state where the described National Highway maintenance and repair activities are focused.
Performance-Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC): A type of contract used for National Highway maintenance.
Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC): A type of contract used for National Highway maintenance.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry responsible for the policy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 740
ANSWERED ON 4th DECEMBER, 2025
Maintenance of NHs in Tamil Nadu
740. DR. KALANIDHI VEERASWAMY:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware of the poor maintenance and
deteriorating condition of several stretches of National Highways
including National Highway-45 (NH-45), National Highway-32 (NH-32)
and National Highway-44 (NH-44) in the State of Tamil Nadu;
(b) the total length of National Highways in the State of Tamil Nadu
that are currently under repair or pending maintenance as of now;
c) the funds allocated and utilized for National Highway
maintenance in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last three years;
(d) whether the Government plans to increase the frequency of
inspection and quality audits of these highways; and
(e) the steps being taken to ensure time-bound maintenance, use of
quality materials and accountability of contractors?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) & (b): Development and maintenance of National Highways
(NHs), including NHs in the State of Tamil Nadu is a continuous
process. The Government is aware of the condition of various
National Highway (NH) stretches in the State of Tamil Nadu,
including NH-45, NH-32 and NH-44. The Government has prioritized
the maintenance of existing National Highway (NH) network and
inter-alia evolved a mechanism to ensure Maintenance and Repair(M&R) of all NHs sections through accountable maintenance
agency. The Government has planned that all NHs sections of
National Highways including NHs in the State of Tamil Nadu should
be under Maintenance, through one of the following mechanisms:
i. Maintenance & Repair (M&R) of stretches of NHs, where
development works have commenced or Operation,
Maintenance and Transfer (OMT) Concessions/ Operation and
Maintenance (O&M) Contracts have been awarded, are the
responsibility of the concerned Concessionaires/ Contractors
till the end of the Defect Liability Period (DLP)/ the Concession
Period. Similarly, for NHs stretches undertaken under TOT (Toll
Operate and Transfer) and InvIT (Infrastructure Investment
Trust), M&R responsibility lies with concerned Concessionaire
till the end of the Concession Period.
ii. For all remaining sections of NHs stretches, Government has
taken a policy decision to undertake maintenance works
through Performance-Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) or
Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC).
Repair of identified defects / issues in the road condition as
well as other maintenance / repair works are completed by the
Contractor / Concessionaire within the stipulated timeline as per
provisions of the Contract.
(c) During the last three years, funds allocated and utilized for
maintenance of National Highways, other than those NHs which are
under concession contracts or under Defect Liability Period where
the responsibility to ensure proper maintenance is with the
corresponding concessionaire or contractor and such cost is
included in the project cost in Tamil Nadu, are as under:
Year Allocation (₹ Utilization (₹ crore)
crore)
2022-23 554 554
2023-24 340 340
2024-25 448 439
(d) A robust system of inspection and quality monitoring of NH
works is in place, viz., third-party quality audits, independent
engineer reviews, and periodic inspections are undertaken by the
implementing agencies to ensure adherence to prescribed
standards. Necessary maintenance works are taken up based on thefindings of these inspections to ensure safe and smooth movement
of traffic.
(e) The Government has taken several measures to ensure time-
bound and quality maintenance of NHs, including:
i. Adoption of Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts
(PBMC) and Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC) to
ensure distress free road.
ii. Strict enforcement of quality control norms, including
deployment of third-party quality auditors.
iii. Repair of identified defects / issues in the road condition as
well as other maintenance / repair works is ensured through
regular inspection by field officers, including Authority
Engineer / Independent Engineer deployed for supervision of
projects. For non-compliance during DLP / Concession period,
penalties are imposed as per the contract conditions or DLP
period is extended. Penalty provisions include due payment
deductions, damage recoveries, debarment / blacklisting etc.
iv. Fixing of clear timelines for maintenance activities and close
monitoring through DATA LAKE portal and review meetings.
v. Adherence of Indian Road Congress specifications for all
maintenance works.
******