This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Road Transport and Highways' response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3125, answered on August 7, 2025, regarding the responsibility for National Highway (NH) maintenance, specifically concerning NH66 in Kerala.
The Ministry, under Shri Nitin Jairam Gadkari, clarifies that the Union Government, through the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, holds primary responsibility for the development and maintenance of NHs. This is executed via agencies including the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), and Public Works Departments (PWDs)/Road Construction Departments (RCDs)/Corporations of State Governments/Union Territories (UTs). State/UT Governments are responsible for facilitating clearances and approvals, land acquisition, and pre-construction activities to ensure timely project completion.
Specifically for NH66 in Kerala, the government has approved works covering 632 km with a total allocation of ₹63,111 Crore. An expenditure of ₹40,216 Crore has already been incurred. The State Government of Kerala has not directly contributed funds for the construction of NH66. However, the State Government contributed 25% share on Land Acquisition (LA) cost amounting to ₹7,117 Crore for development works on NH66 in the State of Kerala.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The Indian government ministry primarily responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways.
SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL: Member of Lok Sabha who asked the question regarding highway maintenance.
SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI: The Minister of Road Transport and Highways who provided the answer to the question.
National Highways (NHs): The network of highways for which the Union Government is primarily responsible for development and maintenance.
NH66: A specific National Highway in Kerala for which funds were allotted and spent.
Kerala: The State in India where NH66 is located and for which construction and maintenance details were requested.
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI): One of the executing agencies responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways.
National Highways Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL): One of the executing agencies responsible for the development and maintenance of National Highways.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3125
ANSWERED ON 07TH AUGUST, 2025
RESPONSIBILITY OF HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE
3125. SHRI SHAFI PARAMBIL:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the division of powers between the States and Union
Government in the construction and maintenance of National
Highways (NHs) in the country;
(b) the total funds allotted for the construction of NH-66 in Kerala;
(c) the amount spent by the State Government of Kerala for the
construction of above highway; and
(d) the role of the State Government of Kerala in the construction
and maintenance of above highway in the State?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (d) The Government in Ministry of Road Transport &
Highways is primarily responsible for development and maintenance
of National Highways (NHs). Works for development and
maintenance of NHs are taken up through various executing
agencies such as National Highways Authority of India (NHAI),
National Highways & Infrastructure Development Corporation
Limited (NHIDCL), Border Roads Organisation (BRO), Public Works
Departments (PWDs) / Road Construction Departments (RCDs) /
Corporations of State Governments / Union Territories (UTs).Additionally, State / UT Governments are responsible for facilitating
clearances and approvals, land acquisition, pre-construction
activities etc. for expediting timely completion of all NHs projects in
the concerned State / UT.
Government has approved works in 632 km length amounting
to ₹ 63,111 Crore towards construction of NH-66 in the State of
Kerala. Out of this, expenditure of ₹ 40,216 Crore has already been
incurred.
State Government of Kerala has not provided any funds for
construction of NH-66. However, State Government of Kerala
contributed 25% share on Land Acquisition (LA) cost amounting to
₹7,117 Crore for taking up development works on NH-66 in the State
of Kerala.
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