The State Government of Karnataka (GOK) has given a high priority for its road sector development and management, with the consideration that road transport system plays very crucial role for the overall socio-economic development in the state; and hence, considerable investments have been made to improve the Road Network in the state. In order to ensure the sustainability of the Road Sector with its growing road network and transport demand.
The Public Works Department (PWD) of the Government of Karnataka has established a Planning and Road Asset Management Centre (PRAMC) in order to strengthen its institutional capacity and to improve business processes for effective, sustainable, safety conscious and cost-efficient road network planning and asset management by using data-driven processes and scientific tools.
The Karnataka Highways Improvement Project, KSHIP-I was launched by Karnataka Government in the year during 1999-2000 vide G.O. No. PWD 21 CRM 96, dated 01.07.1999. Karnataka State Highway Improvement Project (KSHIP) was an initiative of the Public Works, Ports and Inland Water Transport Department, Government of Karnataka for the improvement of road network in the State, with the financial assistance of the IBRD (The World Bank) in line with the Project & Loan Agreement No. 4606 IN dated 21-07-2001. It was headed by the Chief Project Officer and a Project Director who report administratively to the Principal Secretary, PWD through Secretary, PWD. The total project length of 2414 Kms was taken up for improvement spread over 50 contract packages under Up-gradation (900 km) and (1514 Km) Rehabilitation category.
It was proposed to develop the Road network of Karnataka in an integrated manner with a three-tier hierarchy of roads, Core Road network, Feeder roads and Village / Settlement roads Cumulatively 40,000 kms of CRN, 35,000 kms of Feeder roads, 1,50,000 kms of connectivity to Villages to be developed complying with latest standards in road construction and maintenance. Within the overall road network, the Government of Karnataka had identified an initial Core Road Network (CRN) of approximately 25,000 Km. This CRN encompassed the road links considered most important for the economic and social development of the state. The CRN comprised a mix of NH, SH, MDR and others. The CRN extended over time to include more roads as existing roads, which could be brought up to standard
PWD, in charge of overall road sector development and management, needed sustainable road planning, development and asset management system and capacities apart from improving the road infrastructure. Also, (1) There was a need to develop capacities and establish an objective, data driven processes and tools for planning and budgeting of the road network, and road maintenance; (2) PWD did not have adequate capacity at zonal and district levels for effective operation, maintenance and protection of existing road assets; (3) PWD did not systematically incorporate safety into lifecycle of state roads; (4) There was lack of upto date, state-specific road design manual in the department; (5) there was a need to strengthen capacity to procure and implement road projects under private sector participation schemes; and (6) there was a need to strengthen capacity to integrate environmental and social safeguards into road design, project implementation and operation of the road network.
Karnataka Road Sector Policy-2009 (KSRP-2009) came into force in the year 2009 through G.O. No. PWD1 EAP 2009, Bangalore dated 07-03-2009. One of the main objectives of KSRP2009 was to strengthen the institutions in the road sector for orderly, efficient and regulated development of the sector and maintenance of its assets. In order to plan and implement the future developments in the road sector, it was desirable to bring the planning and regulatory functions under a single empowered authority. Under KSRP-2009, Karnataka State Highways Traffic and Transport Authority (KSHTTA) was envisaged as an apex body empowered to undertake the planning and regulatory functions in the road sector. Accordingly, G.O. No. PWD1 EAP 2009, Bangalore dated 07-03-2009 was issued empowering KSHTTA as a single authority for all the planning and regulation activities in the road sector.
KSHTTA in its newly envisaged role of executive body for the road sector would undertake the following activities:
The World Bank and ADB indicated a number of institutional strengthening and capacity development measures to be undertaken by PWD as necessary requirements for loan processing. A joint mission of ADB and World Bank in June 2010 held extensive discussions with PWD and agreed upon an Institutional Development and Strategy Action Plan (IDSAP). One of the principal features of the IDSAP was the establishment of a Planning and Road Asset Management Centre (PRAMC) in PWD.
PWD established Planning and Road Asset Management Centre (PRAMC), vide Government Order No. PWD/11/EAP/2011 dated 23.08.2012, whose functions include Policy Development and Planning, Programming, Road safety, Information Technology support across the whole of PWD and Training support across whole of PWD.
