(a) the status of implementation of Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) Act, 2000 during the last three years;
(b) the details of the beneficiary States during the said period;
(c) the details of highways, railway under passes and railway crossings developed from CRIF during the said period;
(d) whether the Government has established any mechanism to monitor the utilisation of the said funds and if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) and (b) The Ministry is primarily responsible for development and maintenance of National Highways (NHs).
Apart from this the Ministry also allocates fund for State Governments / Union Territories (UTs) for development and maintenance of State Roads under the Central Road & Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) and Economic Importance & Interstate Connectivity (EI&ISC).
The Central Road Fund (CRF) Act, 2000 was amended by the Finance Act, 2018 to the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) Act, 2000 and further, amended by the Finance Act, 2019.
As per amendment to the Government of India (Allocation of Business) Rules, 1961 in July, 2018, the subject matter pertains to the Ministry of Finance.
The CRIF is earmarked for various Infrastructure Sectors such as Transport (Road and Bridges, Ports, Shipyards, Inland Waterways, Airports, Railways, Urban Public Transport), Energy, Water and Sanitation, Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure, etc., as per the provisions of CRIF Act, 2000 amended by the Finance Act, 2019.
The State/ UT - wise details of accrual/ allocation of funds and the funds released/ expenditure incurred for development and maintenance of State roads under CRIF and EI&ISC schemes during each of the last three years, are placed at Annexure-I and Annexure-II respectively.
(c) The details of State Roads/ Highways and Railway over-bridges (ROBs) / Railway under-bridges (RUBs) on such State Roads / Highways developed from CRIF and EI&ISC schemes during last three years are as below:-
Length in km., Rs. in crore
Sr. No. Scheme
State Roads/ Highways ROBs/RUBs on State Roads / Highways
No. Length Cost No. Cost
1 CRIF 503 6,186 11,893 19 670
2 EI&ISC 15 191 406 0 0
(d) and (e) The Ministry finalized the criteria for allocation of funds for development and maintenance of State Roads [for CRIF and EI & ISC Schemes] under the CRIF Act, 2000 in consultation with the Ministry of Finance and circulated the same to all State Governments and UTs in January, 2020.
This criteria inter-alia provides for: -
(i) Maintaining a revolving balance of one third of accrual/ allocation for the States/ UT for the year with State/ UT while releasing funds.
(ii) Release of funds to States/ UTs in Quarterly instalments linked to submission of Utilization Certificates (UCs).
(iii) Further release of funds by State Governments/ UTs to concerned executive agencies (e.g. Public Works Department (PWDs), Road Construction Department/ Corporation, etc.) within 7 days of release of funds by the Ministry.
(iv) Design of projects to be as per relevant Central Government codes and guidelines.
(v) Project monitoring and quality control of works to be done at regular intervals.
(vi) Quality monitoring system at State / UT level to consist of experts and supporting staff appointed by State Govt. / UT including State Quality Monitor.
(vii) Quality monitoring system at State / UT level to devise a Quality Assurance System delineating requirements of quality, responsibility of officers and contractors, conduct independent tests, examine Quality Assurance documentation, responsibility of training PWD staff and recommending laboratory and field testing facilities.
(viii) Inspection of works by civil engineer(s) having degree in civil engineering and 10 years’ experience / Inspection of works by an independent impartial agency/ firm.
As per the CRIF Act, 2000 amended through Finance Act, 2019, the Central Government is no longer responsible for monitoring of State road projects under these schemes and expenditure incurred thereon.