Lok Sabha Question No. 2960 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-03-18
Subject: Roads and Bridges in Darbhanga
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Gopal Jee Thakur

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2960 ANSWERED ON 18/03/2025

## ROADS AND BRIDGES IN DARBHANGA

## 2960. SHRI GOPAL JEE THAKUR:

## Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- whether  more  than  350  km  of  rural  roads  and  hundreds  of Parliamentary Constituency under Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana Phase-
- (a) bridges being constructed to Darbhanga III, if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether there is widespread irregularity in the tender execution and construction work of these roads and bridges, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether work has been allotted to a number of contractors by using  fake  documents  and  fake  audits  and  the  quality  of construction  work  is  such  that  many  roads  have  started breaking down while the use of iron, cement and soil is being reduced  in  bridge  construction  work  and  the  pilling  is  being done  less  than  the  required  depth,  if  so,  the  details  thereof; and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to investigate the construction  work  including  the  tender  execution  process  of roads and bridges being constructed in Darbhanga Parliamentary  Constituency  during  Phase-III  by  the  Central Technical Investigation Team, if so, the detailsthereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

- (a): In  Darbhanga  Parliamentary  Constituency,  40  roads  (298.84 km)  &  76  bridges  have  been  sanctioned,  out  of  which  20  roads (210.79  km)  &  7  bridges  have  been  constructed  till  date  under Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana phase-III, as informed by State of Bihar.

(b) to (d): Rural Road is a State subject and Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) is a one-time special intervention of Central Government to improve the Rural Infrastructure through construction of roads for providing connectivity to eligible habitations. As such, the responsibility to ensure various aspects of implementation  of  the  programme  viz.  tendering,  quality,  timely completion of PMGSY roads etc. lies with the State Governments.

However,  in  order  to  bring  uniformity  in  award  of  works Infrastructure Development  Agency(NRIDA),  a  technical  arm  of  the  Ministry  has developed Standard Bidding Document (SBD). States are required to follow the various provisions of SBD in the matter of award of works sanctioned under PMGSY, National Rural sanctioned under PMGSY.

Besides, a three-tiered Quality Control mechanism is in place under  PMGSY for  ensuring  construction  of  quality  road  works  and durability  of  road  assets  under  PMGSY.  Under  the  first  tier,  the Programme  Implementation  Units  (PIUs)  are  required  to  ensure process control through mandatory tests on material and workmanship at the field laboratory. The second tier is a structured independent  quality  monitoring  at  the  State  level  through  State Quality Monitors (SQMs) to ensure that every work is inspected at initial stage, intermediate stage and final stage of the construction. Under  the  third  tier,  which  is  at  the  national  level,  independent National Quality Monitors (NQMs) are deployed for random inspection of road works to monitor quality and to provide guidance of  senior  professionals  to  the  field  functionaries.  Based  on  the periodic monitoring of quality of roads under the 3-tier mechanism, corrective  measures,  wherever  necessary,  are  taken  by  the  State Governments. Thereafter, the Action Taken Report (ATR) is verified on site by State Quality Monitors (SQMs). The  State Quality Coordinator  (SQC)  then,  examines  the  ATR  and  furnishes  the compliance report. The monitoring of Action Taken Reports (ATRs) is done  by  National  Rural  Infrastructure  Development  Agency (NRIDA).

The  Ministry  received  reference  from  Shri  GopalJee  Thakur, Hon'ble Member of Parliament regarding irregularities in the tendering  of  works  under  PMGSY-III,  the  allocation  based  on  fake documents, and the substandard construction of said works. Accordingly,  Ministry  asked  NRIDA  to  deploy  a  team  of  National Quality Monitors (NQM) for inspection of the alleged works. As per

the NQM inspection report received, 5 works were inspected and all were found to be of 'Unsatisfactory' grading.

Subsequently, the NQM inspection report was shared with the State and an Action Taken Report (ATR) was sought. The state of Bihar  has  informed  that  on  receipt  of  the  complaint,  an  Inquiry Committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Chief Engineer-3,  Rural  Works  Department  (Bihar)  and  based  on  the findings of the report, a charge sheet has been framed against the concerned Superintending Engineer, Works Circle, Darbhanga. Moreover, necessary rectification work has either been done by the State or is in process of doing so.

As regards the alleged use of fake documents by contractors in tendering of the said works under PMGSY, the State has informed that  agreements  of  two  contractors  have  been  terminated  by Executive  Engineer,  Works  Division,  Darbhanga-I  based  on  the complaints received regarding fake experience and audit report.

*****