Draft policy with govt,state roads on way to recovery

The RMMS and the Masterplan are expected to control the interference of politicians and other influential people in selection of roads for construction and repair.

Officials said the final draft of the Road Policy — a revision of the State Road Policy 1998 — has been sent to the government for approval.

An official said: “Roads are currently identified for upgradation on a pick and choose basis and according to proposals received from district officials and public representatives. The new policy proposes to identify roads in a scientific way which would ensure optimum use of funds.”

The RMMS,a software based system,and the road network Masterplan will decide which roads get upgraded first and the kind of civil work needed for it.

“Before introducing RMMS,a database of roads will be prepared through field survey and Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping,” the official said. A Canada-based firm,Scott Wilson,has begun field survey in the state,collecting details of every road on 42 points including its condition,location,connectivity,traffic load,width,length,thickness of upper layer and its smoothness.

On basis of the database,a Road Information System will be introduced,which will also enable people to identify the shortest route to reach any destination.

The state has a 3.36-lakh km road network — including 6,684 km national highways,7,857 km state highways,7,101 km major district roads and 3,15,211 km rural and other department’s roads.

According to the new policy draft,roads that are not maintained by any department are to be maintained by PWD and village panchayats depending on traffic load.

Eight-lane Ring roads are proposed in cities having a population above 10 lakh. Bypasses are planned in cities with a population of above 5 lakh. On every road with four-lanes and above,one lane is to be reserved for High Occupancy Vehicles and commercial vehicles.

Bicycle lanes are proposed along all six-lane roads in urban areas as per land availability. Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) has also been proposed in urban areas according to utility.

As per the policy draft,key crossings in urban areas may be leased to private hands for beautification. All highways are to be widened by at least two lanes by 2017. The same will be done for major district roads by 2022. The draft also proposes a development of foot overbridges in crowded markets,bus stops and railway stations.

The PWD has been proposed to widen roads for bus shelters that are to be erected by Transport Department. Defect liability period for the contractor has been proposed to be increased upto three years from the existing one year. The PWD Engineer-in-Chief,Tribhuwan Ram,refused to speak on the policy draft. Principal Secretary Ravindra Singh was not available for comment.