Parliament Question: Widening of National Highway-730

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 873 ANSWERED ON 23RD JULY, 2026 WIDENING OF NATIONAL HIGHWAY-730 †873. SHRI UTKARSH VERMA MADHUR: Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार्ग मंत्री be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the fact that National Highway (NH)-730 and the Lakhimpur-Sitapur-Lucknow route witness severe daily traffic congestion in Lakhimpur city due to heavy vehicles and sugarcane crushing season of sugar mills; (b) if so, whether any proposal to construct a new ring road or an outer bypass to relieve Lakhimpur city from this traffic congestion is under consideration of the Government, if so, the details thereof; (c) the current status of progress regarding the widening/4-lane/2- lane with paved shoulders) of various sections of National Highway- 730 connecting the India-Nepal International Border (Gauriphanta Border) and the timeline set for the completion of this strategically important route; and (d) whether the Government proposes to take eco-friendly measures, such as the construction of elevated corridors or underpasses, to ensure the safety of wildlife on the highway passing through the Eco-Sensitive Zone of Dudhwa National Park, if so, the details thereof?ANSWER THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS (SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI) (a) to (d) The Government through this Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs). Development and maintenance of NHs is a continuous process. Works on NHs are accordingly taken up based on the traffic density, condition of road and synergy with PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan to keep the NHs in traffic worthy conditions. NH - 730 starts from Pilibhit on NH-30 connecting Puranpur, and terminating at NH-27 near Salemgarh in the State of Uttar Pradesh and has a total length of about 568 km; about 497 km length of NH-730 has been developed to 2 Lane with paved shoulder configuration including the stretches adjoining Lakhimpur city; projects in about 67 km length of NH-730 are in various stages of progress for upgradation to 2 Lane with paved shoulder configuration including construction of bypasses, ROBs, flyovers, etc., and are targeted for completion in phased manner by 06.11.2027. The following works have been completed on NH 730 for easing traffic congestion in Lakhimpur city: - (i) Upgradation to 2 Lane with Paved shoulder from Khutar- Lakhimpur section (Km 82.00 to 140.00); (ii) Construction of 1 ROB & 2 flyovers at the section from Km 133+230 to Km 134+330, Km 134+550 to Km 135+650, Km 136+200 to Km 137+800. Detailed Project Report (DPR) has been taken up for 4 laning from Pharenda to Maharajganj and from Padrauna to Tamkuhiraj of NH-730 in length of 71 km. DPR for 4 laning from Bahraich to Sanai Chauraha, Maharajganj to Kaptanganj & Kaptanganj to Padrauna of NH-730 in a length of 229 km has been included in Annual Plan 2026-27.The Government has also taken up studies for Shamli- Gorakhpur High Speed Corridor, which is almost parallel to existing NH-730 with offset ranging from 0 to about 45 km. Section of road connecting Lakhimpur to Sitapur is State Highway under the jurisdiction of State Government of Uttar Pradesh, which has been already developed to 4 Lane standards. Sitapur to Lucknow section of NH-30 has also been developed to 4 Lane standards. State Highway No. 90 connects Lakhimpur city (NH-730) to India-Nepal International Border at Gauriphanta Border. State Government of Uttar Pradesh is responsible for its development and maintenance. No National Highway currently passes through the Dudhwa National Park. However, km 82.000 to 84.200 of NH-730 falls under the buffer zone, outside Dudhwa National Park. Upgradation of the above stretch from 2 Lane to 2 Lane with Paved shoulder was sanctioned under the work namely (Rehabilitation and upgradation of Khutar-Lakhimpur section from Km.82.00 to 140.00 of NH-730 to 2L+PS). Stretch from Km.82.000 to 84.200 (width 7m) of NH-730 was not upgraded and was de-scoped as Forest clearance permission was not granted. No proposal to construct elevated corridor or underpasses through the Dudhwa National Park is under consideration. *****