Lok Sabha Question No. 462 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-02-03
Subject: eMarg Portal under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Adv. Chandra Shekhar

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 462 ANSWERED ON 03/02/2026

## EMARG PORTAL UNDER PMGSY

462.  Adv. Chandra Shekhar:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the reasons for reported deterioration in a portion of completed Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) roads, despite the provision for five years defect liability and paid maintenance by contractors;
- (b) the progress made in utilizing the eMARG portal for monitoring maintenance fund releases and renewal works during 2025-26;
- (c) the  details of roads requiring urgent attention and their impact on rural communities, State-wise; and
- (d) the measures, including enhanced oversight or policy adjustments,  that  the  Ministry  is  considering  to  ensure  longterm sustainability  and  proper  upkeep of  the  completed  rural road network?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): As per the guidelines of Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY)  maintenance of roads constructed under the programme is  the  responsibility  of  the  State  Governments  and  all 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  the  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 State Governments are required to

make the necessary budget provision and place the funds in SRRDA for such Zonal maintenance contracts.

The roads constructed under PMGSY  are designed and executed in accordance with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) standards  and  are  subject  to  a  five-year  Defect  Liability  Period (DLP),  during  which  the  concerned  contractor  is  responsible  for rectification of defects at no additional cost. In addition, provision is made  for paid maintenance for five years to ensure the serviceability  of  the  road.  Instances  of  deterioration  reported  in some  completed  PMGSY  roads  are  localized  and  attributable  to specific  factors,  such  as  unprecedented  heavy  rainfall,  flooding, overloading by vehicles beyond the design capacity, damage due to utility  cuts  and  encroachments,  inadequate  drainage  maintenance and  traffic  growth  exceeding  initial  projections,  particularly  in rapidly  developing  rural  areas.  In  certain  cases,  delays  in  timely reporting of defects, constraints in local maintenance arrangements,  or  execution  of  works  by  third  agencies  without proper  restoration  have  also  contributed  to  premature  distress. Such instances do not reflect systemic deficiencies in the programme.

Further,  States  are  advised  to  ensure  strict  enforcement  of maintenance  provisions,  prompt  defect  reporting,  and  adequate to drainage upkeep, while leveraging digital monitoring tools enhance accountability and durability of rural road assets.

The  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  has  operationalised  the electronic  Maintenance  of  Rural  Roads  (eMARG)  portal  under  the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) to enable transparent planning,  monitoring  and  execution  of  maintenance  and  renewal works  of  rural  roads.During  2025-26,  States  and  Union  Territories have been  increasingly utilising the eMARG  portal  for online planning,  approval  and  monitoring  of  routine  maintenance  and periodic  renewal  works,  along  with  tracking  of  associated  fund flows for PMGSY roads, including those beyond the initial five-year Defect  Liability  Period  (DLP).  The  system  supports  geo-tagging, time-stamped photographic evidence and road-wise reporting, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability. As on 28.01.2026, against a total maintenance liability of ₹1,696 crore for 2025-26,  an  expenditure  of  ₹667  crore  has  been  reported  by  the States/UTs under DLP. The  State-wise details of liability  and expenditure  are  given  at Annexure-I.   Under  the  post-DLP,  an expenditure  of  ₹527  crore  has  been  incurred  on  renewal  of  roads

under  PMGSY.  The  State-wise  details  of  expenditure  incurred  are given at Annexure-II.

- (c): On completion of the Defect Liability Period (DLP), States/UTs are  required  to  earmark  adequate  funds  for  routine  and  periodic maintenance of these roads as per PMGSY guidelines. The condition of  PMGSY  roads  is  regularly  monitored  through  eMARG  platform which captures maintenance requirements, defects and prioritization  of  works,  including  roads  requiring  urgent  attention. eMARG has arrangements that if the road after inspection get less than  80%  marks  in  Performance  Evaluation  (PE),  the  contractor does not get any payments for that bill. The State/UT-wise number of roads which has got less than 80% marks in PE during financial year  2025-26  (as  on  28.01.2026)  requiring  urgent  maintenance attention are given at Annexure-III.
- (d): The Ministry of Rural Development has put in place a series of institutional, technical and monitoring measures to ensure the longterm  sustainability  and  proper  upkeep  of  the  rural  road  network created under PMGSY. This includes maintenance of PMGSY roads through  a  five-year  DLP  with  paid  maintenance  by  contractors, followed  by  post-DLP  maintenance  by  State  Governments.  To strengthen oversight, the Ministry has operationalised the electronic  Maintenance  of  Rural  Roads  (eMARG)  portal,  which enables road-wise planning, monitoring and reporting of maintenance and renewal works, along with tracking of maintenance fund flows. Integration of eMARG  with  OMMAS facilitates data-driven monitoring and improved financial reconciliation.

A three-tier quality management system, comprising in-house checks, State Quality Monitors and National Quality Monitors (NQMs), continually identify deficiencies and ensure timely rectification.  States  are  regularly  reviewed  and  advised  to  ensure timely  release  and  utilisation  of  adequate  maintenance  funds, proper upkeep of drainage, and prompt reporting of defects.

The  Ministry is also encouraging  adoption  of  climate-resilient designs, improved drainage standards, use of appropriate technologies  and  materials,  and  prioritisation  of  renewal  of  aged and heavily trafficked rural roads. Further, policy initiatives such as consolidation  of  rural  road  networks  under  PMGSY-III  and  the conceptualisation  of  PMGSY-IV,  which  focuses  on  renewal  and sustainability of existing rural roads, are aimed at safeguarding the long-term serviceability of the assets.

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## Annexure-I

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) & (b) of LokSabha Unstarred Question No. 462 for answer on 03.02.2026

State-wise details of maintenance liability and expenditure incurred on the maintenance of roads during Financial Year 2025-26 (as on 28.01.2026):

| Sl. No.   | State/UT                    |   Maintenance Liability (Rs. in crores) |   Expenditure (Rs. in crores) |
|-----------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-------------------------------|
| 1         | Andaman and Nicobar Islands |                                    1.01 |                          0.02 |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh              |                                   19.55 |                          8.67 |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh           |                                   80.72 |                          4.76 |
| 4         | Assam                       |                                  132.36 |                         66.75 |
| 5         | Bihar                       |                                  128.52 |                         59.05 |
| 6         | Chhattisgarh                |                                   94.56 |                         36.88 |
| 7         | Gujarat                     |                                   16.93 |                          4.75 |
| 8         | Haryana                     |                                   19.6  |                          8.31 |
| 9         | Himachal Pradesh            |                                   65.85 |                         14.2  |
| 10        | Jammu and Kashmir           |                                   93.07 |                         27.59 |
| 11        | Jharkhand                   |                                  124.15 |                         10.4  |
| 12        | Karnataka                   |                                   64.36 |                         18.89 |
| 13        | Kerala                      |                                    5.67 |                          2.64 |
| 14        | Ladakh                      |                                    7.97 |                          2.62 |
| 15        | Madhya Pradesh              |                                  108.39 |                         72.22 |
| 16        | Maharashtra                 |                                   26.12 |                          8.88 |
| 17        | Manipur                     |                                   16.73 |                          4.21 |
| 18        | Meghalaya                   |                                   40.48 |                         19.06 |
| 19        | Mizoram                     |                                    4.53 |                          2.09 |
| 20        | Nagaland                    |                                    7.48 |                          1.99 |
| 21        | Odisha                      |                                  130.66 |                         43.84 |
| 22        | Puducherry                  |                                    0    |                          0    |
| 23        | Punjab                      |                                   12.99 |                          7.04 |
| 24        | Rajasthan                   |                                   48.74 |                         17.17 |
| 25        | Sikkim                      |                                    7.34 |                          0.87 |
| 26        | Tamil Nadu                  |                                   44.05 |                         29.4  |
| 27        | Telangana                   |                                    9.89 |                          3.38 |
| 28        | Tripura                     |                                   13.97 |                          2.89 |
| 29        | Uttar Pradesh               |                                  224.6  |                        117.6  |
| 30        | Uttarakhand                 |                                   52.05 |                         24.14 |
| 31        | West Bengal                 |                                   93.79 |                         46.58 |
| Total     | Total                       |                                 1696.13 |                        666.91 |

Annexure referred to in reply to parts (a) & (b) of LokSabha Unstarred Question No. 462 for answer on 03.02.2026

State-wise  details  of  expenditure  incurred  during  Financial  Year 2025-26  (as  on  28.01.2026)  on  PMGSY  roads  during  post  Defect Liability Period (DLP)

| Sl. No. State       |   Total Expenditure (Rs. in crore) (Through Post DLP on Renewal) |
|---------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 1 Arunachal Pradesh |                                                             4.46 |
| 2 Assam             |                                                            51.11 |
| 3 Chhattisgarh      |                                                            76.49 |
| 4 Gujarat           |                                                             3.37 |
| 5 Haryana           |                                                             0    |
| 6 Himachal Pradesh  |                                                             8.98 |
| 7 Jammu and Kashmir |                                                            17.23 |
| 8 Karnataka         |                                                             0    |
| 9 Kerala            |                                                             1.49 |
| 10 Madhya Pradesh   |                                                           184.48 |
| 11 Maharashtra      |                                                            30.22 |
| 12 Meghalaya        |                                                             1.11 |
| 13 Odisha           |                                                             3.62 |
| 14 Rajasthan        |                                                            21.22 |
| 15 Sikkim           |                                                             0    |
| 16 Tamil Nadu       |                                                            22.25 |
| 17 Tripura          |                                                             2.65 |
| 18 Uttar Pradesh    |                                                            80.41 |
| 19 Uttarakhand      |                                                             0.55 |
| 20 West Bengal      |                                                            17.23 |
| Total               |                                                           526.88 |

## Annexure-III

Annexure  referred  to  in  reply  to  part  (c)  of  LokSabha Unstarred Question No. 462 for answer on 03.02.2026

State/UT-wise number of roads which have got less than 80% marks in Performance Evaluation (PE) during Financial Year 2025-26 (as on 28.01.2026)

| Sl. No.   | State/UT                    | Total Roads (Ongoing)   |   No. of roads where PE Marks (less than 80%) |
|-----------|-----------------------------|-------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|
| 1         | Andaman and Nicobar Islands | 67                      |                                            35 |
| 2         | Andhra Pradesh              | 804                     |                                            31 |
| 3         | Arunachal Pradesh           | 451                     |                                            37 |
| 4         | Assam                       | 2894                    |                                           226 |
| 5         | Bihar                       | 7093                    |                                          1202 |
| 6         | Chhattisgarh                | 1659                    |                                           141 |
| 8         | Gujarat                     | 270                     |                                            35 |
| 9         | Haryana                     | 257                     |                                            46 |
| 10        | Himachal Pradesh 1007       |                         |                                           431 |
| 11        | Jammu and Kashmir           | 1181                    |                                           249 |
| 12        | Jharkhand                   | 4329                    |                                           595 |
| 13        | Karnataka 823               |                         |                                            41 |
| 14        | Kerala                      | 234                     |                                            45 |
| 15        | Ladakh 50                   |                         |                                             1 |
| 17        | Madhya Pradesh              | 1829                    |                                           199 |
| 18        | Maharashtra                 | 700                     |                                           113 |
| 19        | Manipur                     | 388                     |                                            29 |
| 20        | Meghalaya                   | 657                     |                                            89 |
| 21        | Mizoram                     | 100                     |                                            17 |
| 22        | Nagaland                    | 58                      |                                             6 |
| 23        | Odisha                      | 5062                    |                                          1572 |
| 24        | Puducherry                  | 2                       |                                             0 |
| 25        | Punjab                      | 465                     |                                            21 |
| 26        | Rajasthan                   | 1672                    |                                           167 |
| 27        | Sikkim                      | 174                     |                                            81 |
| 28        | Tamil Nadu                  | 2231                    |                                            63 |
| 29        | Telangana                   | 548                     |                                           157 |
| 30        | Tripura                     | 163                     |                                            85 |
| 31        | Uttar Pradesh               | 3190                    |                                           120 |
| 32        | Uttarakhand                 | 964                     |                                           189 |
| 33        | West Bengal                 | 1549                    |                                           386 |
|           | Total                       | 40871                   |                                          6409 |

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