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Thanks to the National Highways Development Project (NHDP), a network of runway-like highways built to international standards using cutting-edge technology is now criss-crossing the length and breadth of the country and fast changing the economic and social profile of communities falling on the way. And National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is the agency that is silently turning the great Indian dream into a vibrant reality.
NHDP : An Overview
National Highways Development Project is all about inter- state connectivity. It all began in 1995, when NHAI was first asked to execute externally-aided projects of length around 333 km. Five years later, in December 2000, the Government approved National Highways Development Project (NHDP) and entrusted to NHAI the responsibility of 4-laning and upgrading of about 14,000 km of National Highways.
This Project is divided into following components: Golden Quadrilateral (GQ) connecting 4 major metropolitan cities viz. Delhi-Mumbai-Chennai-Kolkata-Delhi.
The states covered are (i) Delhi, (ii) Orissa, (iii) Andhra Pradesh, (iv) Rajasthan, (v) West Bengal, (vi) Tamil Nadu, (vii) Uttar Pradesh, (viii) Karnataka, (ix) Gujarat, (x) Maharashtra, (xi) Jharkhand, (xii) Haryana, (xiii) Bihar.
(b) North South & East West Corridors (NS-EW) connecting Srinagar to Kanniakumari and Silchar to Porbandar.
(c) Road connectivity of 10 major ports to National Highways.
(d) Other National Highway stretches
NHDP Phase-I was okayed in December 2000 at an estimated cost of over Rs. 30,000 crore (1999 prices). It comprises 5,846 km of Golden Quadrilateral, 981 km of NS-EW corridors, 356 km of Port Connectivity and 315 km of other National Highways, making it a total of 7,498 km. A length of 6107 km (81.4%) had been 4-laned under NHDP Phase-I by July 2005. 92% of GQ would be completed by December ’05.
Green-signaled by the Government in December 2003, NHDP Phase II at an estimated cost of over Rs. 34,000 crore (2002 prices) comprises mostly NS-EW Corridor (6,240 km) and other National Highways of 496 km length, the total length being 6,736 km. Contracts for 2637 km were awarded by July ’05. The balance contracts would be awarded mostly by the end of this year except for the stretches in J&K and West Bengal where there are difficulties of terrain, alignment and environmental clearance.
In March 2005, the Government approved up-gradation and 4 laning of about 4,000 km of National Highways on Build Operate Transfer (BOT) basis under NHDP Phase-IIIA at an estimated cost of Rs. 22,000 crores (2004 prices). It has also approved preparation of Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for another 6,000 km, under NHDP-Phase III B. 12 concessions covering 761 km have already been awarded under NHDP- Phase-III A.
That’s not all. Taking the highway development programme ahead, the Government has embarked upon an ambitious programme for the next seven years (2005-2012) which envisages an investment of Rs. 1,72,000 crores for development of National Highways projects. This includes:
Completion of GQ and NS-EW Corridors.
4-laning of 10,000 km under NHDP Phase-III.
2-laning with paved shoulders of 20,000 km of National Highways under NHDP Phase-IV.
Augmenting Highways in North East under Special Accelerated Programme.
6-laning of 5,000 km of selected stretches of National Highways under NHDP Phase-V.
Development of 1,000 km of expressways under NHDP Phase-VI.
Construction of ring roads, flyovers and bypasses on selected stretches under NHDP Phase-VII.
Corridor Management
Once the construction work is over, the highway is ready for travel and this is where the connectivity and safety aspect takes over. The completed stretches are maintained and operated by the Corridor Management Division with responsibilities that include routine and periodic maintenance, road property management, incident management, engineering improvement, toll fee collection and wayside amenities
Safety Features
Highways are not just roads. There’s more to it than bitumen and concrete. Road safety is an aspect of road building that is never ignored. The roads are designed by Design Consultants of international repute. Provisions for flyovers, bypasses, railway over / under bridges, etc are made with an eye on enhancing road safety. In the Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), provisions are also made for overhead signs, cautionary/regulatory/informatory retro-reflective signboards, crash barriers and median railings.
For safety of road users during construction stage, provisions are made in contract documents for safety features such as advance traffic warning, retro-reflective signs and reflective lights at hazardous locations.
Operation and Maintenance
Several initiatives have been taken to ensure safe and comfortable journey on completed corridors of National Highways. They include thermoplastic line marking on carriageway, crash barriers at the location of high embankment and curves, railing at the central median and service road in urban areas to prevent crossing of pedestrian and cyclists and shrubs/plantations in the central median to improve aesthetics and reduce the glare of light of vehicles coming from opposite direction.
In addition , there is provision of well-equipped ambulance with requisite para-medical staff and necessary medical equipments for every 50 km of completed stretch to provide immediate help to accident victims and to take them to nearest Trauma care center or hospital. Tow-away vehicle facility is available for all completed stretches for towing away the broken down or damaged vehicles from the carriageway. Route patrol vehicle on 24 hours basis are provided for every 50 km length of National Highway on completed corridors to assist the road users. Each patrol vehicle is equipped with adequate sign boards, traffic cones, fire extinguishers, gas cutters, hydraulic jack and first aid kit.
Wayside Amenities
With a view to making road journey, comfortable and convenient and to reduce the fatigue in a long distance driving, NHAI has initiated drive to develop comprehensive wayside amenities for use of highways, which will have provision for refueling, refreshment, rest and relaxation, separate places for parking for cars, buses and trucks, workshop for repairs of vehicles, telephones small shopping centers etc.
Highway Traffic Management System
NHAI has provided a pilot project on Highway Traffic Management System(HTMS) on Kotpulti-Amer Section of NH-8. This comprises Emergency Call Boxes (ECB), Variable Message Signs (VMS), CCTV, Meteorological data station, Automatic vehicle counter and classifier (AVCC), Mobile Radio System and Control Centre. Another HTMS is now operational on the recently-completed Jaipur-Kishangarh highway.
Green Highways
Highways are not being looked upon merely as a means of transportation, but an integral part and parcel of the physical environment and socio-economic milieu.
Since most stretches of the National Highways were still two laned at the time of taking up NHDP, widening of these stretches was the primary task. The first adverse consequence of widening, from environmental point of view, was inevitable felling of trees grown along the highways. However, in order to save maximum possible number of trees from felling, a conscious decision has been taken to restrict widening of the highways to one side only, wherever feasible. This has, indeed, saved a lot of trees.
Any loss of trees is sought to be offset by planting at least double the number. Not only this, following the approach of “Corridor Development & Management”, rather than “Highway Development” NHAI plans to enhance the aesthetics of the highway corridor from all possible angles.
The main objectives of planting along the Highways are:-
Aesthetic enhancement of the project corridors and places of historical and cultural importance by planting selective ornamental trees, landscaping and turfing with grasses and shrubs. To reduce the impacts of air pollution and dust as trees and shrubs are known to be natural sink for air pollutants. To provide much needed shade on glaring hot roads during summer. To reduce the impact of ever increasing noise pollution. To arrest soil erosion at the embankment slopes. Prevention of glare from the headlight of incoming vehicles. Climate amelioration. Moderating the effect of wind and incoming radiation. To define the ROW especially highlight sharp horizontal curves during night.
Plantation Progress
Till June ’05, plantation had been carried out along the substantially-completed section of NHDP Phase-I. Over 5 lakh trees had been planted along nearly 1200 km of avenues—of these over 37 thousands are fruit-bearing trees— while about 7.5 lakh saplings were planted on 1600 km of highways along the median.
Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu top the list of states with high plantations. In Andhra Pradesh, on the Chennai-Kolkata corridor, nearly 2 lakh 60 thousand avenue plantations and 2 lakh median plantations had been carried out. In Tamil Nadu, on the Mumbai-Chennai corridor of GQ, nearly 60 thousand saplings have been planted along the avenue and 18,000 on the median, covering 62 km and 29 km respectively. In Maharashtra, on the Delhi Mumbai Corridor of GQ, nearly 23 thousand saplings had been planted on avenues over 57 km. In addition, tree plantations have been carried out in Assam, Bihar, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. (PIB Features)
**Deputy General Manager (Media Relations), National Highways Authority of India
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