Lok Sabha Question No. 322 (STARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Repair of Rural Roads
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Tanuj Punia

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 322 ANSWERED ON 12/08/2025

## REPAIR OF RURAL ROADS

## *322. Shri Tanuj Punia:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether there is a delay in repairing rural roads damaged during last year, if so, the details thereof particularly in the Barabanki Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) whether  complaints  have  been  received  from  the  affected communities in this regard;
- (c) if so, the details thereof and the action taken thereon; and
- (d) the  manner  in  which  the  Government  checks  the  quality  of repair  of  roads  and  ensure  proper  utilisation  of  the  allocated funds?

## ANSWER MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a) to (d):       A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (d) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  *322  TO  BE  ANSWERED  ON 12.08.2025 REGARDING 'REPAIR OF RURAL ROADS'

- (a) to (c): Maintenance of rural roads falls under the jurisdiction of the  State  Governments.  As  per  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) guidelines, all roads constructed under the scheme are covered by a five-year post-construction maintenance contract, awarded along with the main construction contract. The responsibility for ensuring timely and effective maintenance, including budgeting and fund placement, rests with the respective State  Governments.    Post  the  five  years,  the  roads  are  to  be maintained  under  zonal maintenance  contracts, which  include periodic renewal works, also funded by the States.

As reported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh, there has been no delay in the repair of damaged rural roads in the Barabanki Lok Sabha Constituency.  The State  is  undertaking  maintenance  works through the e-MARG (electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads) portal, which  provides  real-time  tracking  and  oversight  of  maintenance work, activities. The portal integrates a robust monitoring system with geotagged and time-stamped photographs of maintenance uploaded on a bi-monthly basis.

- (d): To ensure the quality and proper utilisation of funds for rural road  maintenance,  the  Ministry  has  instituted  the  following  multilayered monitoring and enforcement mechanisms:
- i. Independent  Quality  Checks:  The  Ministry  deploys  National Quality Monitors (NQMs) to conduct random inspections of road works. Any instance of substandard work is promptly flagged to the concerned State for immediate corrective action.
- ii. Digital  oversight  through  e-MARG:  The  e-MARG  portal,  now operational  in  all  States,  enables  effective  tracking  of  road conditions  and  maintenance  compliance  during  the  Defect Liability Period (DLP). Uploads of geo-referenced photographic evidence ensure transparency and timely execution.
- iii. Fund  Release  Linked  to  Performance:  Central    Share  of  the Programme funds under PMGSY is conditional upon the States

- fulfilling  their  maintenance  obligations.  States  must  certify release of a minimum  percentage  of  the current year's maintenance funds-50% for proposals submitted after May, and 100% for those submitted after November.
- iv. Periodic Review & State-Level Monitoring: The Ministry regularly  reviews  fund  utilisation  and  maintenance  progress during review meetings with States/UTs. States are advised to undertake timely inspections and adhere to prescribed maintenance cycles.
- v. Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MoU):  Participation  in  the scheme mandates that each State/UT sign an MoU committing to  adequate  provisioning  of  funds  for  both  the  initial  and extended maintenance phases.

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