Question : WORKS UNDER PMGSY

(a) whether the Government is aware of the slow pace of work under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Bihar and Rajasthan

(b) if so, the details of the projects under the said scheme which have not been completed within the stipulated time period during the last three years and the current year;and

(c) the steps taken by the Union Government to speed up the work under PMGSY especially in Bihar and Rajasthan?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI LALCHAND KATARIA)

(a) and (b) ‘Rural roads’ is a State subject and the responsibility of execution and maintenance of road works under PradhanMantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is of the State Governments. In some of the States, the progress of PMGSY is relatively slow. Such States are facing constraints in execution of PMGSY schemes due to inadequate institutional capacity, limited contracting capacity, non-availability of sufficient qualified technical personnel, limited working season, adverse climatic conditions, non-availability of land, non-clearance in respect of the land falling in forest areas, law and order problems etc. Since the launch of the Scheme in December, 2000, the Ministry has cleared projects for 13,332 nos. road works to the State of Bihar and 14,584nos. road works to the State of Rajasthan. The year-wise projects sanctioned to the States of Bihar and Rajasthan and its completion status are as per Annexure. 

(c) In order to expedite the implementation of PMGSY in the State of Bihar, the Ministry had signed tri-partite agreements with the State Government of Bihar and five Central Public Sector Undertakings (CPSUs) namely M/s IRCON International Limited, M/s National Buildings Construction Corporation Limited, M/s National Projects Construction Corporation Limited, M/s National Hydro-electric Power Corporation Limited and Central Public Works Department in year 2005 and works were allotted to these agencies upto 2008-09 for constructing roads. In the meantime, the State of Bihar has augmented its implementation capacity and the further works are now being executed by the state. Also, the Union Government had been advising the States through various Regional Review Meetings and Empowered Committee Meetings to take suitable necessary actions to expedite works under PMGSY. Some of the actions taken and advices given to the States by the Ministry are as under:

(i) Increase the number of Programme Implementation Units (PIUs) and adequately staff them with Assistant Engineers and Junior Engineers.

(ii) Encourage the experienced Sub-contractors to become contractors for road-works.

(iii) Hold regular contractors-out-reach-conferences to resolve the issues of the contractors.

(iv) Regular revision of Schedule of Rates (SoRs) by the States to sanction works at current prices and also issue of tenders at prevailing market rates.

(v) Instructing the States to liquidate the Final Bills of the contractors for the works completed by them expeditiously.

(vi) Standardising the bidding documents and e-tendering for fast tender actions.

(vii) Building capacities offield engineers including contractor’s engineers.
(viii) Regular and structured review of physical & financial parameters with the States

(ix) Strengthening the second-tier quality control mechanisms at the State level including institutionalising the mechanisms.

(x) Ensuring timely release of funds to the States by the Ministry.