Engineers to be held accountable, face action for any pothole on highways: Govt
India's highways pothole-free, the government has introduced a stringent accountability system for highway engineers. The Centre has set a clear deadline for eliminating potholes from National Highways (NHs) by the end of this year.
This initiative aims to ensure the smooth and safe travel of millions of commuters who rely on these vital roadways.
Under the new directive, each project director responsible for NH maintenance is now mandated to conduct regular inspections. They must visit all sections of the highways under their jurisdiction at least once every 15 days and promptly address any maintenance issues that arise.
This proactive approach is expected to lead to quicker resolution of road problems, ultimately resulting in safer and more efficient travel for all.
To facilitate this ambitious undertaking, the government plans to cover the entire 1.46 lakh km stretch of the NH network under a perpetual maintenance contract. This contractual arrangement will enable maintenance work to be carried out whenever necessary, eliminating the need to repeatedly issue fresh tenders for the same tasks.
This streamlined process is expected to significantly reduce delays in addressing maintenance issues.
The urgency of this initiative becomes evident when considering the alarming statistics from 2021. Potholes on Indian highways were responsible for a staggering 3,625 road accidents, claiming the lives of 1,481 individuals and leaving 3,064 injured.
These accidents not only result in tragic loss but also impact the overall flow of traffic, causing delays and congestion on our highways.
Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, in addressing this pressing issue, has also outlined additional measures. He mentioned plans to
