Lok Sabha Question No. 4181 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-19
Subject: PMGSY Projects in Dakshina Kannada
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Captain Brijesh Chowta

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4181 ANSWERED ON 19/08/2025

## PMGSY PROJECTS IN DAKSHINA KANNADA

4181. Shri Captain BrijeshChowta:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details regarding the total road length (in km) sanctioned, completed and under construction under Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana  (PMGSY)  in  Dakshina  Kannada  district  since 2020;
- (b) whether  there  are  any  delays  in  the  completion  of  these sanctioned roads, if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has taken any steps to ensure better road connectivity in lower population density taluks of Sullia, Belthangadi and Puttur, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  the  Government  has  conducted  any  surveys  and reports regarding the quality and maintenance of these roads, if so, the details thereof;
- (e) the steps taken  to ensure  that  the  degraded  roads  are rehabilitated back to proper condition; and
- (f) the details and total road length of PMGSY  projects  in Dakshina  Kannada  that have  adopted green construction technologies?

## ANSWER

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

(a) to (c): A  total  of  424  Roads  of  length  2,571  Km  has  been sanctioned  to  State  of  Karnataka  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY)-III since 2020. During the same period, 784 roads of length 5,396 Km have been completed and 81 roads of 156 Km are balance to be completed under various stages of execution.

In Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka, a total of 11 roads of length 71 Km have been sanctioned since 2020. During the same period, 21 roads of length 172 Km have been completed and 2 roads of  5.75  Km  are  balance  to  be  completed  under  various  stages  of execution. There  have  been  delays  in  the  completion  of  the  21 sanctioned  roads  in  Dakshina  Kannada  district  which  includes projects sanctioned in Sullia, Belthangadi and Puttur Block due to shifting,  adverse  weather conditions,  shortage  of  construction  materials,  contractor's  slow progress,  and  unforeseen  site  conditions. The  State  has  informed factors such  as  land issues, utility that all works have been completed.

'Rural Roads' is a State subject and timely completion of PMGSY roads  is  the  responsibility  of  the  respective  State  Governments. State  Governments  are  advised  through  various  Regional  Review meetings  &  Empowered  Committee  meetings  to  take  suitable necessary action to expedite timely completion of road works under PMGSY. The following steps have also been taken by the Ministry for expediting timely completion of PMGSY roads:

- i. States  have  been  requested  to  augment  executing  capacity and contracting capacity and their compliance in this regard is regularly reviewed.
2. ii.
3. Bidding document provisions have been rationalized.
4. Training is imparted to field engineers and contractors as well
- iii. as their staff for capacity building.
- iv. Regular and structured review of physical & financial parameters is  conducted  at  regular  interval  in  various  zones for a cluster of states of that zone.

(d) & (e): PMGSY envisages a three tier Quality Assurance Mechanism  to  ensure  quality  of  road  works  during  construction. First-tier of this mechanism is in-house quality control at Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) level. Second-tier is structured  as  an  independent  quality  monitoring  at  State  level through State Quality Monitors (SQMs) in which provision of regular inspection of PMGSY works has been envisaged. The third-tier is an independent monitoring mechanism at the Central level. Under this tier, independent National Quality Monitors (NQMs) are engaged for inspections  of  PMGSY  roads,  selected  at  random.   To  promote transparency in quality monitoring, it is being ensured that

independent monitors at the second and the third tier take at least 10  digital  photographs  at  the  work  site  including  one  of  the  field the inspection reports on PMGSY programme management & monitoring website i.e.  OMMAS, to facilitate  public  viewing  of  quality  of  road works being executed under the programme.  Also, the abstract of laboratories, for each road work inspected and upload the said Inspection Report is uploaded on website.

A total of 24 inspections have been carried out by NQMs from April, 2020 to July, 2025 in Dakshina Kannada district out of which 2 inspections were carried out on completed projects and remaining 22 inspections were carried out on ongoing projects. All were found satisfactory by the NQM.

Through  eMARG  (electronic  maintenance  of  rural  roads)  i.e. maintenance  MIS  of  PMGSY  roads,  all  inspection  data  of  roads under  maintenance,  along  with  geo-tagged  and  time  stamped photographs  are  digitally  recorded  for  creating  a  transparent  and verifiable maintenance record. The system enables real-time monitoring, facilitates prompt identification of defects, and ensures that  remedial  actions  are  taken  without  delay.  Since  inception, eMarg has been extensively used to monitor roads during the entire five-year  Defect  Liability  Period  (DLP).  The  maintenance  of  21 completed roads in Dakshina Kannada district is also recorded on eMARG.

In  case  of damage  to  PMGSY  roads that  is  beyond  routine maintenance,  the  States  undertake  required  repair  measures  and recommence routine maintenance on eMARG.

(f): In  the  State  of  Karnataka,  out  of  total  1,963  Km  road  length sanctioned  under  green  technology,  1,937  Km  has  already  been completed by the State. In Dakshina Kannada District of Karnataka, total 46 Km  road length has been sanctioned under green technology which has already been completed.

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