HIGHWAYS DEPARTMENT

It is proposed to launch the CHIEF MINISTER'S HIGHWAY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME – a comprehensive plan for upgradation and maintenance of all Government roads in the state. It envisages that all SH roads will be upgraded to Double Lane Paved Shoulder (DLPS) configuration (10m width), MDRs to be upgraded to Two Lane Hard Shoulder (TLHS) specification (7m width), rehabilitation and maintenance of ODRs and reconstruction of 304 bridges in the state. The programme addresses other key challenges such as road safety, environment and social impacts,  and avenue plantation. It is a five year phased programme with emphasis on integrated upgradation and maintenance contracts. It will source funds from Road Fund, Private Sector, Domestic and External borrowings and Budgetary allocations

The NEW ROAD POLICY will cover all aspects of Road Design, Construction, Maintenance and Management of Highway Resources. It will include Engineering, Economic, Environmental and Social Impacts due to Land Acquisition, Resettlement and Rehabilitation of Project Affected Persons (PAPs), Tree Planting, Wayside amenities, Bus bays and Truck terminals, Road Safety, Training, Research and Development. It will also focus on Institutional Strengthening of the Department, and capacity building among Engineers, Consultants and Contractors.

The draft Road Policy is under formulation and will be finalized shortly. We welcome your comments and suggestions which will enhance the quality and content of the policy. Your comments can be sent to the nodal officers at the following email addresses;

1. Secretary to Government, Highways Department, Tamil Nadu - hwaysec@sec.tn.gov.in

2. Nodal Officers, Highways Department, Tamil Nadu - nodal02@hotmail.com 

The Government of Tamil Nadu has approved a Road Safety Policy (April 2007)

VISION
Stop and reverse the increasing trend in number of accidents, number of deaths and number of injuries through comprehensive measures covering engineering, enforcement, education and emergency care.
MEDIUM TERM OBJECTIVE.
Achieve a 20 percent reduction in fatalities and injuries by 2013, considering 2006 as the base year.
To realise this vision, an in-depth analysis of the factors affecting road safety such as road environment, road users and vehicles has been carried out and the following measures have been evolved

Road Management System
Establishment of road Management system (RMS) on the Core State Road Network (SH & MDR) for Highways Department.
 

In order to safeguard the environment and minimise the impacts, steps have been taken to include environmental issues in highway construction. Right from design to construction it will be ensured that Environment Impact Assessments (EIA) are carried out in all the major roads. Already, Environment Mitigation Plan (EMP) was prepared for the roads coming under the World Bank aided project. This will protect and enhance the environment in terms of natural resources such as land, water, air, flora and fauna. It will also mitigate hardship to workers at site, and minimise hazards due to toxic emissions and pollutants.

To meet the social problems arising in major projects in assisting project affected persons, Government (G.O.Ms.No. 193 Dated: 10.8.98) have approved the principles and policy framework to cover Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) for project affected persons (PAPs). The policy is comparable to ADB and World Bank policies and emphasises the importance of a comprehensive, consultative and participatory approach. The policy framework outlines the approaches for minimizing / mitigating social and economic impacts on vulnerable people due to project execution. It covers categorization, assessment of social impacts and outlines comprehensive entitlement matrix for PAPs.  

Government have also constituted two committees (at District and State levels) to monitor and  redress grievances under the R&R program of TNRSP.  The Resettlement and Rehabilitation policy evolved for the Tamil Nadu Road Sector project will be suitably adopted to cover all infrastructure projects, where displacement of families take place due to Land Acquisition.

As part of the project, a five-month study by an International Consultant (M/s Booz Allen & Hamilton) was carried out to assess and identify the Institutional Strengths and weaknesses in the Department. The study reviewed the focus and organizational capacity of the main highway institutions. The objective of this review is to establish a strategy to achieve sustainable improvement to the State’s organizational framework and financing capacity as well as efficient management of the State Highways Network. It covers five focus areas, viz. Organization, Core Process, Information Technology, Financial Mechanism and Regulatory Context. The IDS study is the first phase of a two-phase effort to improve the institutional and financial capacities of the Department. The second phase of the IDS effort would involve implementation of the proposed strategy. Government have accorded in-principle approval to the Institutional Development Strategy in G.O.Ms.No.141 Dated: 16.8.2001.