Parliament Question: Monitoring Road Projects through Mobile App

O.I.H.

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.

Page 1 of 3OMMAS 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 11th 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.

Page 2 of 3(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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