Question : Maintenance and Repair of Roads under PMGSY

(a) the details of the provisions for maintenance and repair of roads constructed under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY);

(b) the funds provided for the purpose during the last three years and the current year along with the details of length of roads repaired, State/UT-wise including Madhya Pradesh;

(c) whether the Government has constituted a committee to monitor the repairing of works under the scheme and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the steps/action being taken by the Government to ensure quality upkeep and maintenance of such roads; and

(e) whether any steps have been taken for the plantation of trees on both sides of the roads constructed under PMGSY and if so, the details thereof including the details of agency involved in such activities?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI RAM KRIPAL YADAV)

(a) to (d): ‘Rural Roads’ is a State subject and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations in the core network. As per the programme guidelines, execution and maintenance of rural roads is the responsibility of the State Government. All PMGSY roads are covered by 5-year maintenance contract, entered into along with construction contract, with the same contractor, in accordance with the Standing Bidding Document (SBD). Maintenance funds to service the contract are budgeted by the State Governments. On expiry of 5-year post-construction maintenance, the State Governments make necessary budget provision to place such roads under zonal maintenance contracts. During this five-year maintenance period the roads are inspected by quality monitors at State level and at National level regularly for ensuring proper maintenance. States are appraised about the maintenance issues based on National Quality Monitors (NQMs) inspections during the Empowered Committee Meetings and Regional Review Meetings held from time to time and directed to take appropriate action. No separate Committee has been constituted to monitor the repairing of works under the scheme.

With an objective of putting in place institutional measures to ensure systematic maintenance and providing adequate funding for maintenance of rural Core Network, it has been felt that the States need to have a “Rural Road Maintenance Policy”. NRRDA in collaboration with International Labour Organization (ILO) and World Bank has evolved a standard template of policy framework along with a guidance note which has been shared by Ministry with all the States. So far 16 States i.e. Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, Assam and West Bengal have formulated and notified their State Rural Roads Maintenance Policy.

The State-wise details of maintenance fund required, received and the expenditure incurred during the last three years and current year up to third quarter of 2016-17 i.e. December, 2016 is given at Annexure – I and State-wise length under 5-year maintenance period including Madhya Pradesh is given as per Annexure – II.

(e) : The Ministry of Rural Development has prepared an action Plan for road side plantation on both sides of the PMGSY roads in convergence with Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) and circulated to the State Governments. The National Rural Roads Development Agency (NRRDA) and Indian Road Congress (IRC) have jointly issued detailed technical guidelines (IRC: SP: 103-2014) for road side plantation on Rural roads. States have been requested to initiate follow up action for plantation of trees on the flanks of PMGSY roads in consultation with Gram Panchayats/Zilla Panchayat and MGNREGA functionaries.

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