Executive Summary:
This document is the Minister of Road Transport and Highways' response to questions regarding the Central Roads and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) in Lok Sabha on August 21, 2025. It outlines the mechanism for project identification, details of projects undertaken in the last five years, funds collected, allocated, and spent, pending proposals from Kerala, and measures for timely project completion. The CRIF is earmarked for various infrastructure sectors as per the amended CRIF Act, 2000.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **CRIF Purpose and Scope:**
* CRIF supports Transport (Roads and Bridges), Ports, Shipyards, Inland Waterways, Airports, Railways, Urban Public Transport, Energy, Water and Sanitation, Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure.
* Fund transfer is done Ministry wise.
* **CRIF Funding and Utilization (Last Five Years):**
* Details of Road and Infrastructure Cess collection and utilization transfers are provided year-wise from 2020-21 to 2024-25.
* Collection ranged from ₹44,552.49 Crore to ₹235,782.55 Crore.
* Utilization transfers ranged from ₹39,777.90 Crore to ₹251,738.18 Crore.
* **National Highway and State Road Projects:**
* National Highway projects are based on overall budgetary outlay, including CRIF allocation.
* State road development and maintenance follow criteria finalized with the Ministry of Finance under the amended CRIF Act, 2000.
* Gati Shakti framework guides project identification, sanction, and implementation.
* State Governments/UTs handle administrative, technical, and financial approvals with up to 10% cost overruns.
* **Kerala-Specific Information:**
* Ten state road projects (108 km, ₹142 Crore) approved under CRIF in Kerala, passing through Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency, in the last five years.
* As of 01.04.2025, Kerala's Bank of Sanction (BOS) is ₹1,200 Crore against a current year accrual of ₹181 Crore.
* Due to the high BOS, fresh CRIF proposals from Kerala could not be considered.
* **Project Implementation and Monitoring:**
* Project implementation is the responsibility of State/UT Governments.
* States/UTs are responsible for project monitoring and quality control.
* Funds are released to States/UTs upon submission of Utilization Certificates.
* A revolving balance (one-third of accrual allocation) is maintained with the State/UT.
* **Other Ministries and Projects:**
* Ministry of Railways uses funds for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs). 4,402 ROBs/RUBs sanctioned at ₹1,00,860 Crore (140 in Kerala at ₹4,837 Crore, including 2 in Wayanad at ₹77 Crore).
* Ministry of Rural Development uses funds for rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
* Department of Telecommunications has used funds for OFC-based network for Defence Services.
* **Annexures:**
* Annexure I contains State/UT-wise details of state road projects approved under CRIF.
* Annexure II contains State/UT-wise details of accrual and release of funds for state road development and maintenance under CRIF.
Impact Analysis
* **State Governments/Union Territories:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for prioritizing projects, obtaining approvals (administrative, technical, financial), implementing and monitoring projects, and ensuring quality control and timely completion. Also impacted by fund allocation based on accrual, committed liabilities, and utilization of previously released funds.
* *Action Required:* Submit prioritized project proposals, ensure timely project implementation and quality control, provide Utilization Certificates for previously released funds, and manage finances to maintain a revolving balance.
* **Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for overall budgetary allocation, approving state road projects based on accrual and liabilities, releasing funds to States/UTs, and setting criteria for project approval.
* *Action Required:* Continue to allocate funds based on established criteria, review and approve state project proposals as sanction space becomes available, and monitor fund utilization.
* **Ministry of Finance:**
* *Impact:* Consulted in finalizing the criteria for state road development and maintenance under the amended CRIF Act, 2000.
* *Action Required:* Continue to collaborate with MoRTH on financial criteria and fund allocation strategies.
* **Ministry of Railways:**
* *Impact:* Receives funds for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and Road Under Bridges (RUBs) to improve safety and mobility.
* *Action Required:* Prioritize and implement ROB/RUB projects based on their impact on safety and mobility.
* **Ministry of Rural Development:**
* *Impact:* Receives funds for rural road development under PMGSY.
* *Action Required:* Continue developing rural roads under PMGSY, focusing on connectivity to habitations.
* **Department of Telecommunications:**
* *Impact:* Receives funds for developing OFC-based network for Defence Services.
* *Action Required:* Continue expanding and maintaining the OFC network for Defence Services.
Key Entities Referenced
Central Roads and Infrastructure Fund: A fund (CRIF) earmarked for various Infrastructure Sectors such as Transport Road and Bridges, Ports, Shipyards, Inland Waterways, Airports, Railways, Urban Public Transport, Energy, Water and Sanitation,Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra: Member of Parliament who raised questions regarding the Central Roads and Infrastructure Fund.
Nitin Jairam Gadkari: Minister of Road Transport and Highways who provided answers related to the Central Roads and Infrastructure Fund.
CRIF Act, 2000: The Central Road and Infrastructure Fund Act, which governs the operation and management of the CRIF.
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways: The government ministry (MoRTH) responsible for national highways projects, and development and maintenance of State Roads.
Ministry of Finance: The government ministry consulted for finalizing the criteria for development and maintenance of State Roads under CRIF.
Gati Shakti: A framework that serves as the guiding principle for identification, sanction and implementation of Projects.
Kerala: A state in India, specifically mentioned concerning pending CRIF proposals and approved road projects including Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4605
ANSWERED ON 21ST AUGUST, 2025
CENTRAL ROADS AND INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
4605. SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA:
Will the Minister of ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
सड़क परिवहन औि िाजमार् ग मंत्री
be pleased to state:
(a) the mechanism for identifying road and other infrastructure
projects under the Central Roads and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF);
(b) the details of road and other infrastructure projects taken up
under CRIF during the last five years, State-wise;
(c) the details of CRIF funds collected during the above period;
(d) the details of funds allocated and expenditure incurred under
CRIF during the above period, State-wise;
(e) the details of pending CRIF proposals from Kerala, especially in
Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency; and
(f) the measures being taken by the Government to ensure the
timely completion of CRIF projects?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF ROAD TRANSPORT AND HIGHWAYS
(SHRI NITIN JAIRAM GADKARI)
(a) to (f) The Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) is
earmarked for various Infrastructure Sectors such as Transport
(Road and Bridges, Ports, Shipyards, Inland Waterways, Airports,
Railways, Urban Public Transport), Energy, Water and Sanitation,Communication, Social and Commercial Infrastructure, etc., as per
the provision of Section 7A of the amended CRIF Act, 2000. Transfer
of fund is done Ministry wise under CRIF. Year-wise details of
collection of Road and Infrastructure Cess and the utilization /
transfers made under the CRIF during the last five years are as
under: -
Amount in ₹ Crore
2024-25
Item 2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24
(RE)
Collection 235,782.55 195,986.96 59,234.95 44,552.49 45,250.00
Utilization / Transfers 182,363.47 251,738.18 239,646.25 47,777.66 39,777.90
National Highways projects in the Ministry of Road Transport
and Highways (MoRTH) are taken up as per the overall available
Budgetary outlay including the allocation from CRIF. Additionally,
MoRTH also takes up development and maintenance of State Roads
as per the criteria duly finalized in consultation with the Ministry of
Finance under the amended CRIF Act, 2000. The criteria inter-alia
provides for finalization of list of projects prioritized by State
Governments / UTs to be approved by MoRTH, with framework of
Gati Shakti being the guiding principle for identification, sanction
and implementation of Projects. Administrative Approval, Technical
Approval and Financial Sanction of projects of the approved list is
given by concerned State Governments/ UTs, with permissible
excess cost of upto 10 percentage over approved cost.
State / Union Territory (UT) – wise details of State Road
projects approved under the CRIF Scheme during the last five years,
including for the State of Kerala, are at Annexure-I. This includes 10
State Road projects in 108 km length costing ₹142 Crore approved
under CRIF Scheme in the State of Kerala and passing through
Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency, during the last five years.
State / UT - wise details of accrual and release of funds for
development and maintenance of State roads under CRIF Scheme
during the last five years are at Annexure-II.
As per the approved Criteria for approval of State road
projects and allocation of funds under the CRIF Act, 2000, theGovernment in MoRTH considers approval of State roads projects
submitted by State government under CRIF based on the current
year accrual and outstanding committed liabilities of already
sanctioned works i.e. Bank of Sanction (BOS). As on 01.04.2025, the
BOS of the approved state road projects for the state of Kerala
including the Wayanad district is about ₹1,200 Crore against the
current year accrual of ₹181 Crore. Considering the large BOS (more
than 6.5 times the current year accrual) of Kerala, the CRIF
proposal submitted by the Government of Kerala could not be
considered. As and when sanction space is available based on
accrual of the state under CRIF and utilisation of funds received
from the State Government, fresh proposals in order of priority
indicated by the State Government shall be taken up for approval.
Further responsibility for Project implementation lies with the
concerned State / UT Government, with Project monitoring and
quality control of works to be done at State/UT level at regular
intervals ensuring timely completion of works. Government in
MoRTH releases funds to the State Governments / UTs based on the
submission of Utilization Certificates of funds released earlier under
CRIF. While releasing funds, it is ensured that a revolving balance of
one third of accrual/ allocation for the State/ UT for the year is
maintained with the State/ UT.
Funds allocated to Ministry of Railways are primarily used for
development of Road Over Bridges (ROBs) / Road Under Bridges
(RUBs) in lieu of Level Crossings (LCs). Such works are prioritized
and taken up on the basis of its impact on safety and mobility in
train operations and impact on road users. As on 01.04.2025, 4,402
nos. of Road Safety Works (ROBs / RUBs) are sanctioned at the cost
of ₹1,00,860 Crore, including 140 nos. sanctioned at the cost of
₹4,837 Crore in the State of Kerala. Out of this, 2 nos. of ROBs are
sanctioned at the cost of ₹77 Crore in Wayanad Lok Sabha
Constituency.
Funds allocated to the Ministry of Rural Development under
various sources including CRIF have been primarily used for
development of rural roads under Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY), based on the model of decentralized network
planning for rural roads with objective to provide at least single
connectivity to each target habitation under PMGSY.
Funds allocated to the Department of Telecommunications
under CRIF during the last five years have been used for OFC based
network for Defence Services.ANNEXURE-I
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4605
ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025 ASKED BY SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA REGARDING CENTRAL ROADS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
State / UT – wise details of State Road projects approved under the CRIF Scheme during the last five years,
including for the State of Kerala: -
Length in km, Cost in ₹ Crore
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
S.No. State/UT
No. Length Cost No. Length Cost No. Length Cost No. Length Cost No. Length Cost
1 Andhra Pradesh 46 676 946 0 0 0 35 400 1,174 3 40 108 19 278 646
2 Arunachal Pradesh 0 0 0 27 301 553 0 0 33 25 78 306 21 136 449
3 Assam 13 201 606 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 76 425 4 50 262
4 Bihar 1 2 205 0 0 0 27 122 1,542 0 0 0 8 68 642
5 Chhattisgarh 0 0 0 15 316 846 6 0 315 1 0 42 8 324 892
6 Goa 0 0 0 6 75 81 0 0 0 1 1 92 0 0 0
7 Gujarat 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 49 577 1,905 0 0 0
8 Haryana 0 0 0 1 24 99 13 279 780 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 Himachal Pradesh 0 0 0 13 94 238 1 0 103 5 73 295 6 144 345
10 Jharkhand 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 216 1,128 0 0 0 0 0 0
11 Karnataka 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 297 2,061 1,386 0 0 0
12 Kerala 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 404 673 0 0 0 0 0 0
13 Madhya Pradesh 1 107 154 24 600 1,893 37 643 2,966 11 59 698 0 0 0
14 Maharashtra 0 0 0 272 2,263 2,040 171 943 2,978 89 663 1,900 130 832 1,994
15 Manipur 13 145 132 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 58 153 92 455 314
16 Meghalaya 0 0 0 15 105 257 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 76
17 Mizoram 0 0 0 1 10 47 1 37 1 0 0 0 1 0 70
18 Nagaland 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 24 93 8 39 103 0 0 0
19 Odisha 1 31 125 35 619 1,727 6 0 361 0 0 0 2 0 435
20 Punjab 12 144 181 5 24 272 23 372 627 13 180 384 4 97 210Length in km, Cost in ₹ Crore
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
S.No. State/UT
No. Length Cost No. Length Cost No. Length Cost No. Length Cost No. Length Cost
21 Rajasthan 0 0 0 81 1,607 2,046 14 0 674 112 2,397 3,591 28 749 1,184
22 Sikkim 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 33 50 8 26 62
23 Tamil Nadu 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 25 478 0 0 0 28 66 301
24 Telangana 0 0 0 48 612 879 5 0 433 37 498 977 0 0 0
25 Tripura 1 16 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 22 77 9 81 127
26 Uttar Pradesh 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 78 1,095 0 0 0 15 108 1,092
27 Uttarakhand 0 0 0 42 370 615 6 1 194 13 439 259 12 333 454
28 West Bengal 7 136 483 0 0 0 14 346 997 0 0 0 0 0 0
29 Delhi 0 0 0 1 3 9 0 0 0
30 Ladakh 17 422 297 0 0 0 37 469 1,352 0 0 0
31 Puducherry 4 41 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0ANNEXURE-II
ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) to (f) OF LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4605
ANSWERED ON 21.08.2025 ASKED BY SMT. PRIYANKA GANDHI VADRA REGARDING CENTRAL ROADS AND
INFRASTRUCTURE FUND
State / UT - wise details of accrual and release of funds for development and maintenance of State roads
under CRIF Scheme during the last five years: -
Amount in ₹ Crore
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Sr. No. State/UT
Accrual Release* Accrual Release* Accrual# Release# Accrual# Release# Accrual# Release#
1 Andhra Pradesh 325.54 322.00 334.96 300.80 380.19 356.55 420.10 485.48 420.00 322.56
2 Arunachal Pradesh 125.48 42.03 128.39 128.33 147.65 183.63 167.75 238.00 168.04 269.13
3 Assam 140.74 220.81 143.80 77.51 169.64 122.82 194.65 223.24 193.55 222.59
4 Bihar 195.30 425.93 201.16 447.06 226.47 226.47 258.43 258.43 255.17 255.17
5 Chhattisgarh 237.50 234.92 245.74 230.29 281.12 86.92 320.19 353.60 322.62 177.28
6 Goa 14.43 0.00 13.41 0.00 16.26 0.00 18.47 48.16 17.79 29.70
7 Gujarat 424.68 430.74 434.06 725.29 509.31 249.12 586.35 73.79 585.01 680.70
8 Haryana 167.73 78.54 177.05 163.71 197.73 0.00 205.63 108.60 203.31 189.00
9 Himachal Pradesh 97.27 95.95 99.74 188.01 117.73 169.05 136.32 136.32 130.95 130.96
10 Jharkhand 160.88 78.77 164.33 40.79 184.96 81.56 207.57 192.64 208.51 251.61
11 Karnataka 439.77 434.99 443.11 442.90 513.13 465.27 608.06 660.91 608.81 453.85
12 Kerala 132.26 273.99 126.77 126.71 147.19 133.46 171.14 186.37 166.06 166.06
13 Madhya Pradesh 541.01 535.13 556.21 622.93 632.99 573.96 719.10 778.13 721.61 682.14
14 Maharashtra 683.27 675.84 683.80 390.27 783.19 1,084.15 886.63 886.63 891.52 891.52
15 Manipur 35.85 13.22 36.60 13.43 42.10 13.81 48.37 146.98 46.87 15.19
16 Meghalaya 40.81 76.93 40.63 90.55 47.51 43.08 54.83 78.42 55.37 61.55
17 Mizoram 32.56 32.28 33.14 22.06 38.20 10.96 43.62 35.60 43.86 55.45
18 Nagaland 26.44 37.41 27.02 27.00 31.31 28.39 35.54 46.09 35.79 32.09
19 Odisha 289.54 534.19 298.67 535.07 340.95 313.52 387.41 423.41 392.13 392.13
20 Punjab 148.77 141.18 149.41 193.35 176.96 106.84 195.33 72.04 195.97 174.52Amount in ₹ Crore
2020-21 2021-22 2022-23 2023-24 2024-25
Sr. No. State/UT
Accrual Release* Accrual Release* Accrual# Release# Accrual# Release# Accrual# Release#
21 Rajasthan 622.71 141.81 627.89 148.40 715.82 906.62 812.41 745.90 816.17 1120.67
22 Sikkim 12.09 3.98 12.06 25.78 14.09 17.04 16.27 28.04 16.18 21.72
23 Tamil Nadu 352.04 503.17 350.32 350.15 402.67 377.63 457.11 486.15 457.75 425.76
24 Telangana 256.08 253.29 262.01 261.88 304.27 275.89 335.09 366.38 335.58 335.59
25 Tripura 17.89 48.84 18.49 33.76 21.23 19.42 23.94 25.92 24.01 23.94
26 Uttar Pradesh 582.69 576.36 616.59 616.29 702.42 658.75 777.40 821.07 777.88 784.51
27 Uttarakhand 97.23 61.34 98.85 98.80 114.01 378.17 129.83 140.46 129.95 55.07
28 West Bengal 209.20 136.11 213.97 287.06 240.31 217.90 275.67 298.08 272.75 272.75
29 Andaman & Nicobar Islands 15.12 15.12 15.17 10.08 17.49 15.81 19.75 16.68 19.75 16.06
30 Chandigarh 6.16 0.00 4.76 0 6.55 0.00 7.39 0.00 7.40 0.00
31 Dadra & Nagar Haveli
5.61 5.61 4.80 2.38 5.74 0.31 6.50 0.00 6.49 0.00
32 Daman & Diu
33 Delhi 34.15 0.00 27.20 0 32.06 0.00 36.31 36.31 0.00
34 Jammu & Kashmir 94.51 79.40 96.91 321.18 113.61 343.61 128.67 206.67 128.67 128.67
35 Ladakh 246.22 96.95 250.83 0.00 289.06 83.44 326.41 68.10 326.41 95.56
36 Puducherry 8.47 8.47 7.39 5.18 10.39 7.83 11.76 9.94 11.76 9.94
Funds to some States/UTs have been released more than the accrual of a State from the unspent balance of previous years of that State/UT.
#Including funds allocated/released for construction of ROBs/ RUBs/ Bridges on State Roads under SETU BANDHAN under CRIF Scheme
*****