Lok Sabha Question No. 940 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-02-08
Subject: PMGSY in Bihar and West Bengal
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dileshwar Kamait, Jyotirmay Singh Mahato

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 940

ANSWERED ON 08/02/2022

## PMGSY IN BIHAR AND WEST BENGAL

## 940. SHRI DILESHWAR KAMAIT: SHRI JYOTIRMAY SINGH MAHATO:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the total length of roads approved and constructed in Phase-1, Phase-2 and Phase-3 under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) in Supaul of Bihar and Purulia of West Bengal;
- (b) whether several proposals of Supaul and Purulia district under Phase-2 of PMGSY are pending till date and if so, the reasons therefor and the time by which these proposals are likely to be approved; and
- (c) the  measures  taken  to  ensure  proper  maintenance  of  the  roads  constructed  under PMGSY?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI FAGGAN SINGH KULASTE)

(a)        The details of road length sanctioned and completed so far under PMGSY-I, II and III in Supaul district of Bihar and Purulia district of West Bengal are as under:

| District              | Road length Sanctioned (km)   | Road length Sanctioned (km)   | Road length Sanctioned (km)   | Road length Completed (km)   | Road length Completed (km)   | Road length Completed (km)   |
|-----------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|-------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
|                       | PMGSY-I                       | PMGSY-II                      | PMGSY-III                     | PMGSY-I                      | PMGSY-II                     | PMGSY-III                    |
| Supaul (Bihar)        | 672.92                        | 26.26                         | -                             | 657.76                       | 26.26                        | -                            |
| Purulia (West Bengal) | 2,264.68                      | 143.66                        | -                             | 2,230.67                     | 142.91                       | -                            |

(b)        All the proposals of PMGSY-II have already been sanctioned by the Ministry to the state of Bihar & West Bengal including Supaul district of Bihar and Purulia district of West Bengal. As on date, no proposal of these states under PMGSY-II is pending in the Ministry.

(c)        As per PMGSY guidelines, maintenance of roads constructed under the programme is the  responsibility  of  the  state  governments.   However  Ministry  on  its  part  have  taken  the following steps/measures to ensure that the roads constructed  under  PMGSY  are maintained properly :

(i)  All road works sanctioned under the scheme are covered by initial five year maintenance contracts to be entered into along with the construction contract, with the same contractor, as per the Standard Bidding Document.

(ii)   Maintenance  funds  to  service  the  contract  are  required  to  be  budgeted  by  the  State Governments  and  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  State  Rural  Roads  Development  Agencies (SRRDAs) in  a  separate  maintenance  account.  On  expiry  of  this  5  year  post  construction maintenance,  PMGSY  roads  are  required  to  be  placed  under  Zonal  maintenance  contracts consisting of 5 year maintenance including renewal as per maintenance cycle, from time to time, to be funded by the state governments.

(iii)    Further  in  order  to  ensure  that  states  provide  required  maintenance  funds  during  the design life of the road being constructed under PMGSY-III, a provision has been added in the programme  guidelines  under  which  the  states  have  to  enter  into  a  Memorandum  of Understanding  with  the  Ministry  of  Rural  Development,  Government  of  India  before launching  of  the  scheme  in  the  concerned  state  for  providing  adequate  funds  for  the maintenance  of  roads  constructed/  upgraded  under  PMGSY  for  initial  five  years  routine maintenance, and for further five year routine maintenance including periodic renewal as per requirement.

(iv) As per para 19.3 (vi) of the programme guidelines, a certificate from CEO of SRRDA is taken at the time of release of second installment of the Programme Fund to the effect that Maintenance funds required as per maintenance contracts in force had been spent during the previous financial year. For release after May of a  year, the certificate should also include that  50%  of  such  maintenance  fund  requirements  for  the  current  Financial  Year  has  been released by the State, whereas for releases after November the certificate should be for 100% of such fund.

(v)  As a measure of enhancing the focus on maintenance of roads during the defect liability period  (five  years  from  the  date  of  completion  of  road)  and  streamlining  the  delivery  of routine  maintenance  of  PMGSY  roads  on  the  basis  of  performance  based  maintenance contract, Electronic Maintenance of PMGSY roads (eMARG) has been implemented in all the states. eMARG is an online platform, used by all the states, that monitors maintenance of PMGSY works for five years from the date of completion (i.e. under Defect Liability PeriodDLP).

(vi)     National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), a technical arm of the Ministry  of  Rural  Development  has  prepared  a  Policy  Framework  for  the  development  of maintenance policy of rural roads. The Policy Framework along with a Guidance Note for the States  was  shared  with  the  States.  All  the  states  have  framed  their  own  rural  roads maintenance policies based on this policy framework.

- (vii)       The  implementation  of  all  sanctioned  works including its maintenance is   regularly monitored through online  programme  Monitoring Information  System  named  Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS) on real time basis. In addition, the issue is also  regularly reviewed by the Ministry by way of Regional Review Meetings (RRMs),  Performance  Review  Committee  (PRC)  Meetings,  Pre-Empowered/  Empowered Committee Meetings with the States. Besides above, special review meetings/monthly review meetings are also held by Secretary/ Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development with Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries of the States to take stock of the progress of the scheme including maintenance aspects.

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