Working Groups for the Eleventh Five Year Plan (2007-2012)

Roads

Dated 10^th April, 2006

II Terms of reference

1. To critically review the financial and the physical progress of the development of the entire road net work both in the Centre and State sectors during the 10^th Five Year Plan, highlighting the constraints faced and the remedial actions required to be taken in the context of the preparation of the 11^th Five Year Plan.
2. Keeping in view the experience aquired from NHDP and launch of the expanded programme for highway development, recommend a policy framework for the development of roads in the 11^th Five year Plan and a perspective for the next decade beyond 11^th Plan - Vision 2021 - taking cognizance of various issues, including inter- alia the following :
   1. need for providing world class infrastructure with a view to improving mobility with safety;
   2. need for enhancing the capacities of various implementing agencies in order to achieve time targets;
   3. need for balanced development of the entire grid of road network comprising of NHs, SHs, MDR, ODRs etc.;
   4. prioritization of development work in view of a large number of deficiencies in the existing network with a view to consolidating the network ;
   5. need for maintenance and preservation of existing assets;
   6. need for creating an environment conducive to public private partnerships, in view of the increasing role of private sector;
   7. need for upgradation of technology in order to improve quality of construction of roads and reduce construction time;
   8. energy conservation and environment protection;
   9. road safety and traffic management in view of increasing emphasis on speed and mobility;
   10. need for integrated road-port linkage development programme to ensure faster transportation of traded cargo, especially container cargo.
3. To formulate a programme for development of roatis for the Eleventh Five Year Plan indicating monitorable physical targets, financial outlays and their yearwise phasing during this Plan period. While formulating the Plan, various aspects should be examined including irter-alia the increasing role of the private sector, the emerging traffic demands on high traffic density road corridors and the development needs to meet these demands at economic costs, the need for improving mobility and speed of goods and passenger by higher category roads, the existing deficiencies of the road system and remedial measures and safety considerations for road transport operations.
4. To review the existing arrangements including the increasing role of the private sector for funding the development of various categories of roads and suggest innovative measures for augmentation of resources both for construction and maintenance of roads. To evolve a toll policies keeping in view the overall objective of reducing the cost of transportation.
5. To review the existing norms and criteria for maintenance and repairs for all categories of roads, assess actual requirement of funds for each year of the Eleventh Plan and recommend measures to meet such requirements. To create a conducive environment for public private partnership for maintenance operations especially, in respect of high density corridors.
6. To review the type of machinery and material presently being used in road construction and maintenance and suggest improvements, including steps needed for growth of road equipment industry in the country in order to deliver quality output in a time bound manner.
7. To review the existing manpower training arrangements at the central and State - level and suggest improvements, keeping in view the need for construction of higher category roads including expressways.
8. To review the status of various implementing agencies involved in the development and maintenance of roads in terms of their capability to deliver timely outputs and to recommend measures, including outsourcing and institutional for augmenting their implementation capacities.
9. To suggest measures for effectively monitoring the progress of construction and maintenance of roads. Also to evolve a mechanism to ensure that funds allocated for maintenance of roads in the 12^th Finance Commission are optimally utilised.
10. To evolve a strategy for ensuring optimal utilization of the increasing Central Road Fund accruals going as Additional Central Assistance for the development of State road network.
11. To review the status of domestic construction industry in terms of its capability to absorb, utilize and augment the technology being presently used for road and bridge construction.
12. To review the existing status of research and development in roads and to suggest future directions and thrust areas in R and D programmes , including those for road safety.
13. With increased emphasis on speed and mobility, recommend road safety measures including setting up of a dedicated organization for the same detailing the funding, implementation and monitoring aspects to reduce the rate of accidents. To establish synergies with the Ministry of Health in managing accidents by setting up trauma centers on GQ and NS, E-W Corridor in the first phase.
14. To assess environmental impact and suggest measures to reduce the adverse environmental impact of construction of road, particularly in the hilly areas.
15. To suggest measures for effective land management, including provision of wayside amenities, control on ribbon development and prevention of encroachments alongside roads in the interest of optimum utilization of the road capacity.
16. To study the best practices adopted worldwide and to draw lessons for the Indian road industry focusing on public private partnerships; and
17. To examine any other matter considered important by the Working Group.