Lok Sabha Question No. 4307 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: Monitoring Road Projects through Mobile App
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4307 ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025

## MONITORING ROAD PROJECTS THROUGH MOBILE APP

## 4307. Shri BhausahebRajaramWakchaure:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  developed  any  online  portal  or mobile app to monitor the projects that are under construction under Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY);
- (b)
- if so, the manner in which these apps or portal is being used;
- (c) whether any new  sub-scheme  (like PMGSY-III) has been launched under this and if so, the objectives thereof;
- (d) the  standards  set  for  checking  the  quality  of  construction materials being used under PMGSY scheme; and
- (e) whether  any  long-term  policy  has  been  formulated  for  the maintenance of roads constructed under PMGSY since the year 2020 till date?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

(a) & (b): In order to effectively monitor the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) and bring about greater efficiency, accountability  and  transparency  in  its  implementation,  a  modern web based On-line Management, Monitoring and Accounting System  (OMMAS)  has  been  set  up.  Implementation  of  all  PMGSY works  is  being  monitored  through  OMMAS  on  real  time  basis  to ensure that the physical and financial progress are in sync with the overall targets given to states. Further  Project  Management Information System (PMIS) within OMMAS has been developed for better management of construction activities of each road sanctioned under PMGSY-III.

OMMAS is also used for monitoring quality of PMGSY projects assessed by independent quality monitors that helps in real time monitoring and brings transparency in ensuring the quality infrastructure in rural areas. The inspections conducted by National  Quality  Monitors  (NQMs)  and  State  Quality  Monitors (SQMs)  are  uploaded  on  Quality  Monitoring  System  (QMS)  mobile application by the quality monitors from the filed with geo-tagged photographs which is finally reflected on OMMAS portal.

To  enhance  transparency  during  road  construction  it  has been  made  mandatory  from  May  2022  onwards  to  install  Global Positioning System (GPS) enabled Vehicle Tracking System (VTS) on all vehicles/ machinery/ equipment  deployed  by  the contractor/  PIUs  for  execution  of  PMGSY  III  works.  This  helps  in assessing the proper operation of these machinery/ equipment for a specified period  which  is  very  essential  for  achieving  the specified quality of the roads being constructed.

Further,  as  a  measure  of  further  enhancing  the  focus  on maintenance  of  roads  during  the  defect  liability  period  and  also streamlining the delivery of routine maintenance of PMGSY roads, Electric Maintenance of Rural Roads (eMARG) has been introduced, which is conceptualized on Performance Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC). Payment to the contractor is now made through eMARG which is based on the minimum condition of road, its cross drainage works and traffic assets. Payments are based on how well the contractor manages to comply with the performance standards or service levels defined in the contract, and not on piece work.

(c): Recently, a new vertical named PMGSY-IV has been launched on  11 th   September,  2024  with  a  focus  on  providing  all-weather connectivity  to  25,000  eligible  unconnected  habitations  of  500+ population in plain areas, 250 + population in NE and Hill States/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule-V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks,  Desert  Areas)  and  100+  in  Left  Wing  Extremism (LWE) affected districts as per Census 2011. The Central Government  is  working  in  close  coordination  with  the  States  to facilitate submission of proposals under the scheme. The States/UTs have completed the survey of unconnected habitations through Gram Sadak Survey APP for PMGSY-IV, in which the eligible habitations and the feasible alignment which connects the habitation has been geo-tagged.

(d): The quality  of  construction  materials  used  under  the  PMGSY scheme is  assessed  in  accordance  with  the  standards  set  by  the Bureau  of  Indian  Standards  (BIS),  as  specified  in  the  relevant guidelines and the Ministry of Rural Development Book of Specifications  published  by  Indian  Roads  Congress  (IRC).  The detailed procedures for material testing has been published in the Quality  Assurance  Handbook  which  may  be  seen  at  programme website www.pmgsy.nic.in ==> Documents+.

(e): PMGSY roads are constructed by the State Governments with a  design  life  of  at  least  10  years.  As  per  PMGSY  guidelines, maintenance  of  roads  constructed  under  the  programme  is  the responsibility of the State Governments. All PMGSY road works 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.  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 cycle, from time to time. The Ministry has also entered into MoU with States to ensure that the States provide adequate maintenance funds during the Defect Liability Period and the post Defect Liability Period.

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