During 2019-20, projects with about 8948 km length were awarded and completion was achieved in about 10,237 km length of roads. The rate of development of roads has increased significantly from about 11.7 km during 2013-14 to about 28 km now. Due to consistent efforts of the Ministry, length of the National Highways (NHs) has increased from 91,287 km in April, 2014 to about 1,36,155 km as on 20 December 2020.

    1. Accelerated Development of Highways

                a. The Ministry proposes to develop additional 60,000 km of National Highways in the next five years, of which 2500 km are Expressways /Access Controlled Highways, 9000 km Economic Corridors, 2000 km for Coastal and Port Connectivity Highways and 2000 km Border Road/ Strategic Highways. 

                b. Expenditure of Ministry increased from Rs 33,745 crore in 2013-14 to Rs 1,50,841 crore in 2019-20. 

    2. Bharatmala Pariyojana

        a. The Bharatmala Pariyojana, which is approved by CCEA, includes the development of 35 Multi-modal Logistics Parks (MMLPs) at various locations across the country.

        b. These MMLPs are being developed on a ‘Hub and Spoke’ model and being implemented by NHAI and NHIDCL (in North-East India).

        c. The objective is to eradicate Logistics related deficiencies in India, to draw the associated costs down and to strategically integrate highway projects and other connectivity initiatives like inland waterways, railways etc. in tandem with the freight distribution ecosystem.

        d. A Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) acts as an inter-modal freight-handling facility with mechanized material handling provisions which contains warehouses, specialized cold chain facilities, freight / container terminals and bulk / break-bulk cargo terminals.

        e. MMLPs include inter-modal connectivity such as dedicated Railway line/Spur, access from prominent Highway(s) / Expressway(s) to allow movement of commercial vehicles and connectivity to an Airport or a Seaport (or Inland waterway Terminal).

        f. As a value addition, the MMLPs shall also include services such as customs clearance, provisions for late stage processing activities such as sorting / grading, aggregation / disaggregation, cold storage etc. to provide flexibility to the users at a single location.

    3. Development of dedicated National Highway Connectivity for Ports (as part of Bharatmala Pariyojana)

    4. Augmenting Finances through Innovative Instruments

        a. NHAI intends to raise Rs 1 lakh crore through Toll-Operate-Transfer (TOT) Model of asset monetization in the next five years.

        b. Finances are also likely to accrue from Securitization of Toll Revenues as well as the setting up of Infra Investment Trust (InvIT).

    5. Atmanirbhar Bharat: Relief for Contractors/Developers of road sector

        a. Retention money (which is a part of the Performance Security till construction period) is recommended to be released in proportion to the work already executed.

        b. Extension of Time to Contractor/ Concessionaire for meeting their obligation under the Contract for 3 months to up to 6 months depending on site conditions.

        c. Direct payment to approved Sub-Contractor through Escrow Account.

        d. For all National Highway Tolling Contracts, loss in collection of fee may be compensated in accordance with the Contract.

    6. Major initiatives under Motor Vehicle legislation

        a. The Motor Vehicle Act 1988 regulates the aspects of road transport and Highways.

        b. The Act provides in detail the legislative provisions regarding registration of motor vehicles, licensing of drivers, application for new learners’ license, license of conductors, control of motor vehicles through permits, special provisions relating to state transport undertakings, traffic regulation, insurance, offences and penalties, etc.

        c. To manage the above rules, two extensive systems namely Vahan and Sarathi have been created by Ministry of Road Transport & Highways.

        d. VAHAN is a flagship application under the e-Transport Mission Mode Project, related to Vehicle Registration, Permit, Taxation, Fitness and allied processes.

        e. VAHAN is a centralized, web enabled application, facilitating easy web-based access to all RTOs, Dealers, Citizens, Transporters and various other stakeholders, while configurability of the application allows addressing state specific customizations.

        f. SARATHI is a flagship application under the e-Transport Mission Mode Project facilitated for computerization of Driving License related services, a one-stop solution for issuance of Driving License, Learner License and related services under types of licenses issued by the Transport Department.

        g. SARATHI is a workflow-based application, available in web-based, centralized mode.

        h. eChallan: It is developed on android platform for comprehensive enforcement solution and is complemented by a web application.

        i. Through this App, on-the-spot challan can be issued for any type of traffic violations and the same can be followed up through different stages of processing.

        j. mParivahan: mParivahan , is developed for citizens and transport operators who can access various transport related services like payment of Road Tax, applying for various services, appointment with RTO, uploading documents etc.

        k. mParivahan provides a very unique feature of virtual Driving License and virtual Vehicle Registration Certificate through back-end connectivity to the Transport National Register, encrypted QR code and Aadhaar-based authentication – which allows an option to replace existing physical documents/ cards with the secured, enforceable, digital identities.

    7. Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019

        a. Mandatory fitness test through Automated Centres

        b. New provision for ELV

        c. New Section on Vehicle Recall

        d. Safety of Pedestrians and Non-Motorized Transport

        e. Safety of Children during Commuting

        f. Electronic Monitoring and Enforcement of Road Safety

        g. New Section for Good Samaritan, Golden Hour treatment, No fault liability

    8. Facilitative regulation published by the Ministry for enabling the Citizens with mild to medium colour blindness in obtaining the Driving License

    9. Providing a green strip 1 cm thick on the sticker of registration details on four wheelers for BS VI vehicles

    10. All India Tourist Vehicles Authorization and Permit Rules, 2020: The draft have been published for public and stakeholders’ consultation.

    11. Colour of the alpha numerals and the back ground of registration plate for different class and category of vehicles

    12. Providing for new features of Tyre repair kit in cars and updated standards for certain items in two wheelers

    13. Separate emission norms for Agricultural machinery and Construction Equipment Vehicles

    14. Facilitating and ensuring supply and movement of Oxygen cylinders during the period of COVID-19 pandemic

    15. Standards for Hydrogen fuel cell Vehicles: For promotion of alternate fuels and green fuel technology

    16. The Motor Vehicles (Driving) (Amendment) Regulations, 2020: Amendments like use of handheld device, inspection of documents in electronic form etc. 

    17. Road-Worthiness Certificate for Compliance to Emission and Noise Standards

    18. Protective Helmets for two-wheelers

    19. FASTag for Vehicle Registration / Fitness under VAHAN.

(The author is a trainer for Civil Services aspirants. The views expressed here are personal.)