(a) the details of various routes in respect of which complaints have been received regarding low quality works carried out by the institutions nominated for maintenance and repair of the roads constructed in Banswada-Dungarpur (Rajasthan) and Prayagraj Janpad (Uttar Pradesh) under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY); and
(b) the various actions taken by the Government against the said complaints?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)
(a) & (b): Rural roads is a state subject. As per the programme guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY), construction, maintenance and ensuring the quality of works are the responsibilities of the State Government concerned. As informed by the State Governments of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh, no complaints were received regarding low quality and maintenance of roads in Banswara-Dungarpur district of Rajasthan and Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh respectively.
PMGSY has a well-structured three tier Quality Assurance Mechanism for ensuring construction of quality and durability of road assets. The first two tiers of the structure are the responsibility of the respective State Governments and under the third tier, independent National Quality Monitors (NQMs) are deployed for random inspections of road works under the programme to monitor quality and also to provide guidance to the field functionaries. The details of NQM visit to Banswara and Dungarpur districts of Rajasthan and Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh for inspection of maintenance works during the last three years (April 2019-March 2022) are given below:
District No. of maintenance works No. of maintenance work Unsatisfactory %
inspected graded Unsatisfactory
Banswara 14 2 14.29
Dungarpur 34 4 11.76
Prayagraj 29 4 13.79
If a maintenance work is reported as Unsatisfactory by NQM, the Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) rectifies the deficiencies which is then verified by the State Quality Monitor (SQM) and settled by the State Quality Coordinator. As per the available information, the deficiencies in all six works (06) pertaining to Banswara and Dungarpur districts of Rajasthan have been rectified and works have been re-graded as satisfactory based on the recommendation by the SQM. In respect of four (4) works graded Unsatisfactory by
the NQM in Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh, two (2) works have now been re-graded as satisfactory based on the recommendation of the SQM, while in other two cases, action taken report are yet to be submitted by the PIU concerned.
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