Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways addressed concerns regarding the deteriorated condition of National Highway stretches from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali and Gohpur to North Lakhimpur in Assam. Responsibility for these stretches has been entrusted to NHIDCL, though physical handover is pending. Maintenance plans, including Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC), are in place to address the issues.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Road Condition and Responsibility:**
* Stretches from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali and Gohpur to North Lakhimpur are in deteriorated condition.
* Responsibility for these stretches has been entrusted to NHIDCL as of May 30, 2025, but physical handover from the State PWD is pending.
* **Maintenance and Repair Actions:**
* Potholes on the Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali stretch were previously rectified via a Short-Term Maintenance Contract (STMC) in 2024-25.
* Potholes on the Gohpur to North Lakhimpur stretch, caused by rainfall and landslides in 2024, will be addressed through two sanctioned Performance Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) allotted on 18.12.2024 and 17.06.2025 respectively, ensuring maintenance for the next five years.
* **Upgrading Plans:**
* A Project Management Consultancy (PMC) firm is engaged for preparing a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for 4-laning the Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali section.
* Bids have been invited and are under evaluation for engaging a PMC for the Gohpur to Lakhimpur stretch.
* **Government Policy on National Highway Maintenance:**
* The Government prioritizes National Highway maintenance and repair.
* Maintenance is ensured through concessionaires/contractors during the Defect Liability Period (DLP)/Concession Period or through Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC) or Short-Term Maintenance Contracts (STMC) for remaining sections.
* PBMC contracts typically span 5-7 years, while STMC contracts are for 1-2 years.
* Regular road inspections are conducted to assess conditions and identify necessary maintenance or upgrades.
Impact Analysis:
* **Daily Commuters and Local Population**
* Impact: Experience safer and better-maintained roads, reducing accident risks.
* Action Required: N/A - Benefit from improved road conditions.
* **State Public Works Department (PWD)**
* Impact: Required to hand over the specified National Highway stretches to NHIDCL.
* Action Required: Complete the physical handover of the Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali and Gohpur to North Lakhimpur stretches to NHIDCL.
* **National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL)**
* Impact: Assumes responsibility for the maintenance and upgrading of the specified National Highway stretches.
* Action Required: Take over the physical possession of the stretches from State PWD, execute the sanctioned maintenance works, and carry out the 4-laning project as per the DPR.
* **Project Management Consultancy (PMC) Firms**
* Impact: Responsible for preparing Detailed Project Reports (DPR) and providing project management consultancy services.
* Action Required: PMC already engaged for Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali should prepare the DPR for 4-laning. The PMC whose bid is accepted for Gohpur to Lakhimpur should start work as per the contract.
* **Maintenance Contractors**
* Impact: Responsible for executing maintenance and repair works on the specified National Highway stretches.
* Action Required: Contractors awarded PBMC contracts for Gohpur to North Lakhimpur stretch should execute the works as per the contract terms and conditions.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry responsible for the development and maintenance of road transport and national highways.
Shri Ranjit Dutta: A member of Lok Sabha who posed a question regarding the condition of National Highways in Assam.
Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who provided the answer to the question in the Lok Sabha.
Baihata Chariali: A location in Assam, part of a National Highway stretch in deteriorated condition.
Mission Chariali: A location in Assam, part of a National Highway stretch in deteriorated condition.
Gohpur: A location in Assam, part of a National Highway stretch in deteriorated condition.
North Lakhimpur, Assam: A town in Assam, part of a National Highway stretch in deteriorated condition.
National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL): A company entrusted with the stretches of the National Highway from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali and from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur in Assam.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 911
ANSWERED ON 24TH JULY, 2025
NATIONAL HIGHWAYS IN ASSAM
911. Shri Ranjit Dutta:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government is aware that the stretches of the
National Highway from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali and from
Gohpur to North Lakhimpur in Assam are in a severely deteriorated
condition with numerous potholes and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government is aware that these road stretches are
vital for daily commuters and have become accident-prone due to poor
maintenance necessitating urgent intervention for the safety and
benefit of the local population and if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government has any plans or proposals to repair and
upgrade these stretches in a time-bound manner; and
(d) if so, the details of the proposed timeline and budgetary allocation
made thereon?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) The stretches of the National Highway from Baihata Chariali
to Mission Chariali and from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur in Assam have
recently been entrusted to National Highways & Infrastructure
Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) as per Gazette of India
Notification dated 30.05.2025. However, these stretches are yet to be
physically handed over by the State Public Works Department to
NHIDCL.The State PWD has reported that the stretch from Baihata Chariali
to Mission Chariali (Km 0.000 to Km 134.500) had developed potholes at
several locations which were rectified through Short-Term Maintenance
Contract (STMC) carried out during 2024–25. As regards the stretch
from Gohpur to North Lakhimpur, potholes had developed due to severe
rainfall and landslides at various locations during the 2024 monsoon.
These stretches were not under DLP (Defect Liability Period) at the
time. To address these issues, two maintenance works under
Performance-Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) mode have been
sanctioned and the works were allotted on 18.12.2024 and 17.06.2025
respectively, which will ensure maintenance of these road stretches for
the next five years.
A Project Management Consultancy (PMC) firm has been engaged
for carrying out the Detailed Project Report (DPR) of 4-laning of the
section from Baihata Chariali to Mission Chariali. Further, bids have
also been invited for engaging Project Management Consultancy (PMC)
in the stretch from Gohpur to Lakhimpur wherein bids have been
received and are under evaluation.
The Government has prioritized the maintenance of National
Highways (NH) network and has evolved a mechanism to ensure
Maintenance and Repair (M&R) of all NHs sections through an
accountable maintenance agency. The Government has planned that all
NHs sections 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)/ 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). While STMC works are generally
undertaken for a contract period of 1-2 year, PBMC works are
undertaken for a contract period of about 5-7 years.
Additionally, regular road inspections are carried out to assess
road conditions, identify areas requiring maintenance or upgradation,
and ensure that the highways remain safe, accessible, and well-
maintained.
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