Parliament Question: Safety Improvement Works on NHs in Dharmapuri

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1981 ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2026 SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON NHs IN DHARMAPURI 1981. SHRI MANI A: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has undertaken any assessment of the condition, traffic density and safety standards on National Highways passing through Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu during the last five years and if so, the details thereof, highway-wise; (b) whether the assessment has identified stretches prone to frequent road accidents, traffic congestion, poor pavement condition, inadequate lighting, unsafe junctions, damaged bridges or lack of pedestrian and road safety infrastructure and if so, the corrective measures taken or proposed thereon; (c) the details of funds sanctioned, allocated and utilised for maintenance, widening, strengthening and safety improvement works on National Highways in Dharmapuri district during the last three years; and (d) whether the Government proposes to undertake any new projects to improve road capacity, commuter safety and connectivity in Dharmapuri district and if so, the details and timeline thereof? ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)(a) There are two National Highways (NHs), NH-44 and NH-844, pass through Dharmapuri District in the State of Tamil Nadu. To assess the condition of highways, National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has carried out Network Survey Vehicle (NSV) Survey, Road Safety Audit and Traffic Survey. The details are at Annexure-I. (b) The details of safety improvement works on NHs in Dharmapuri district are at Annexure-II. (c) The details of funds approved and utilized for NH works in Dharmapuri district in Tamil Nadu State during the last three years are at Annexure-III. (d) The Concession Period for the Krishnagiri–Thumbipadi section of NH-44 ends on 23.08.2026. Detailed Project Report (DPR) for capacity augmentation of the section shall be initiated after preliminary assessment.ANNEXURE-I ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1981 ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI MANI A REGARDING ‘SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON NHs IN DHARMAPURI’. Status of National Highway stretches passing through Dharmapuri District in the State of Tamil Nadu Stret Tr ch Late No. of affLan No.o Black To Mo St Sch passi Co st R Black Bal ic e C f Bla Spots tal de art edu ng thr nd-oad Spots f anc Contr Deonfi ck S rectif SlN Le of i / A led ough itioSafe or whi e to actor/ Actual / Lik ns -gur pots y-cati . H Name of t ng mplpp Co Dhar n oty A ch per be t Conce ely Comple ity atio ident on wo N N he stretch th e-moinmpl mapu f t udit manen ake ss-ion tion Date (P n of ified rks in o. o. (in ent ted etio ri Dist he con t rectif n up aire C the in th progr K ati Da n d rict & roaduct ication (No U/ stre e str ess ( m) on te ate lengt d ed o compl s.) datch etch Nos.) h (Km n eted y) ) 2 Krishnagir 50.4 (Est i - Thumbi M/s. L Km (f ima padi secti BO 17. 16. arsen Completed rom K66 12.1 te u 4 on of NH-4 86 T ( 07. 01. 4-LaGo 1 and T on 06.02.2 m.11336 1.20 20 5 13 nde 4 4 from Km .0 Toll 20 200 ne od oubro 009 +0 to 2 25 r pr 94+000 to ) 06 9 Ltd Km.1 e-pa Km 180+0 63+4) rati 00 on) Thorapalli PCC for 26. Agrahara 55 Km issu 6.6 K m - Jittand M/s. S ed on 01.1 m (fro ahalli sect 07. 06. unway 1.2024. Bam Km 25.0 ion of NH- 36 HA 12. 12. 4-LaGo RNS T lance work .53+5 7.20 - - - - 844 from .8 M 20 202 ne od J Pvt. is likely to to Km 26 Km 23+35 21 3 Ltd. be complet .60+1 0 to Km 6 ed by 31.1 ) 0+100 (Pk 8 2.2026 21 g-II) 2 4 50 M/s. D 4 Jittandaha 8 inesh lli -Dharma 34.4 chand puri sectio Km (f ra R A 22. 21. n of NH-84 Completed rom K 29.0 34 grawa HA 08. 08. 4-LaGo 4 from Km on 30.03.2 m.60+ 5.20 - - - - .4 l Infra M 20 202 ne od 60+100 to 024 1 to K 26 con Pr 21 3 Km 94+46 m.94+ ivate 0 (Pkg-III 46) Limite ) dANNEXURE-II ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (b) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1981 ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI MANI A REGARDING ‘SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON NHs IN DHARMAPURI’. 1. Pavement Condition Assessment: (i) Krishnagiri - Thumbipadi section of NH-44 The condition of road stretch is good. This project is under BOT (Toll) mode, and the Concession Period is ending on 23.08.2026. The rectification works such as installation of missing signages, raising height of drain covers, etc. are in progress by Concessionaire and shall complete the entire work before handing over the project road to NHAI on completion of the concession period. In addition, to ensure the safety of the road users in Thoppur Ghat Section, realignment of the stretch from Km.158+500 to Km.165+100, including construction of 3.7 Km 6-lane Elevated Corridor, has been taken up at a cost of Rs.905 Cr. Work was commenced on 21.03.2025 and 45% progress is achieved as on 30.06.2026. The project is scheduled to be completed by March, 2028. (ii) Thorappalli Agraharam-Jittandahalli Section of NH-844 (Package-II) Out of total length of 36.8 Km, Provisional Completion Certificate (PCC) for 26.6 Km was issued on 01.11.2024. As on date, 35 Km has been completed. Balance work mainly includes 1 Km length passing through Sanamavu Reserve Forest Area, for which permission has been received only in December, 2025. The work including 260 m Elephant Underpass in the Forest Area, is in progress and expected to be completed by 31.12.2026. The condition of the completed stretch is good. (iii) Jittandhalli-Dharmapuri Section of NH-844 (Package-III) This project (34.4 Km) was completed in March, 2024 and the condition of the road is good. 2. Road Lighting: Lighting is generally provided in built-up areas, at Major junctions and near structures to enhance road safety.3. Bridge Inspection: Periodic inspections of bridges have been carried out to ensure their structural integrity and continued traffic worthiness. 4. Blackspot rectification measures: As part of the permanent rectification measures to eliminate accident-prone locations identified as Black Spots, appropriate safety measures such as crossing structures, service roads, and Foot Over Bridges (FOBs) have been provided to enhance the safety of road users.ANNEXURE-III ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (c) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1981 ANSWERED ON 30TH JULY, 2026 ASKED BY SHRI MANI A REGARDING ‘SAFETY IMPROVEMENT WORKS ON NHs IN DHARMAPURI’. Details of funds approved and utilized for various NH works in Dharmapuri District in the State of Tamil Nadu during the last three years S Name of the work Tot Length passi Tota Proportio Expenditure incurred during l. al L ng through Dl app nate Cost the year N engtharmapuri Di rove of works f (Rs. in Cr.) o h (K strict (Km) d Co alling in D2023- 202 202 2026- Total . m) st harmapur 24 4-2 5-26 27 (u (Rs. i District 5 pto 3 Cr.) 0.06. 2026) Widening and Strengthening works 1 Four laning of Thorapalli Agraha36.7 6.6 1243 223.3 30.3 13.9 25.0 16.4 85.6 ram to Jittandahalli section of N .6 H-844 (PKG-II) from Km.23/350 t o Km.60/100 2 Four laning of Jittandahalli to D34.4 34.4 1539 1539.5 273.0 157.124. 30.5 585.8 harmapuri section of NH-844 (P .5 4 9 KG-III) from Km.60/100 to Km.94 /460 3 Improving the Alignment of Thop 6.6 5.0 905. 685.8 - 33.0 92.1 34.0 159.0 pur Ghat Section from Km 158+5 3 00 to 165+100 in Krishnagiri- Th umbipadi Section of NH-44 Total (A) 77.7 46.0 3688 2448.7 303.3 204 242. 80.8 830.4 .4 .2 0 Black Spot Elimination and One Time Improvement Work 4 Rectification of Black Spots at 1 8.1 6.8 155. 147.2 0.0 0.0 7.5 13.9 21.4 3 locations in Krishnagiri - Thum 5 bipadi section of NH-44. Total (B) 8.1 6.8 155. 147.2 0.0 0.0 7.5 13.9 21.4 5 Total (A+B) 85.8 52.8 3843 2595.9 303.3 204 249. 94.7 851.7 .9 .2 5 *****