Road Ministry engage private companies for maintenance & repair of NHs

New Delhi: The implementing agencies of MoRTH including NHAI engage private companies for maintenance & repair of National Highways. There are basically three methods of carrying out maintenance & repair works on National Highways. In the first method, the contractor is paid for the quantities of repair works undertaken by it at the contract rates. This information was given by Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shri Nitin Gadkari in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

The second method is performance-based maintenance. In a performance-based maintenance contract or during defects liability period cum maintenance period of EPC contract, the contractor maintains the road as per the performance standards laid down in the contract and lump sum payment is made to the contractor on periodic basis.

The third method is performance-based maintenance during the operation and maintenance period of the public-private partnership mode of contract by the concessionaire. In public-private partnerships as well in EPC contract, contractor/concessionaire maintains the project highway during construction period.

Continuous supervision and monitoring of the maintenance and repair works are undertaken by Independent Engineer/Authority’s Engineer/ Construction Supervision Consultant and officers of the concerned implementing agency of the Government as per provisions of respective contract and guidelines of MoRTH/NHAI to complete maintenance and repair works in time/ ensure that performance standards are adhered to throughout the maintenance period.