(a) whether the Government is aware that the 12th Five Year Plan recommended periodic road safety audits at different stages of design, implementation and operations, to ensure compliance with safety standards on road and highways;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons thereof;
(d) whether the Government would consider collaborating and providing financial assistance to State Governments, including the State of Kerala, to check the quality of roads and the safety on sidewalks and crosswords; and
(e) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken by the Government to conduct road safety audits on highways?
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| ANSWER |
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI PON. RADHAKRISHNAN)
(a) and (b) Government is aware of the importance of periodic road safety audits at different stages like Feasibility Study stage (FS), Detailed Project Report stage (DPR), during construction stage, pre-opening stage etc., to ensure meeting of road safety standards. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways incorporated mandatory provisions for carrying out road safety audits at different stages in the Model Concession Agreement/Standard Contract document for highway improvement projects on BOT/EPC modes respectively. Road Safety Audits for projects of other modes and existing highways are also carried out as per relevant Indian Roads Congress Standards/Guidelines especially Manual on Road Safety Audit IRC-SP-88-2010.
(c) Does not arise.
(d) and(e) Ministry of Road Transport & Highways issued detailed guidelines for carrying out road safety audits of different highway development projects and the existing highways. Standard RFP document for road safety audits has also been prepared and circulated to all the states including the state of Kerala. Various states/UTs including the state of Kerala have been requested to identify some stretches for carrying out road safety audits. Ministry of Road Transport & Highways is responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways and the cost thereon including the cost of road safety audits is borne by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways. |
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