Executive Summary:
The Ministry of Rural Development addresses concerns regarding the maintenance of roads constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). It clarifies that road maintenance is the responsibility of State Governments, who are required to budget and allocate funds for this purpose, including initial five-year maintenance contracts and subsequent maintenance cycles. The Ministry monitors maintenance through National Quality Monitors and the eMARG application and takes actions to ensure state compliance.
Key Points / Main Content:
Road Maintenance Responsibility:
* Maintenance of PMGSY roads is the responsibility of State Governments.
* States must budget maintenance funds and place them in a separate maintenance account for the State Rural Roads Development Agencies.
Maintenance Contracts:
* Road works include initial five-year maintenance contracts with the same contractor.
* After the initial period, roads are placed under zonal maintenance contracts consisting of five-year maintenance, including renewals, financed by State Governments.
Monitoring and Quality Control:
* National Quality Monitors check the quality of maintenance work.
* States are informed to rectify unsatisfactory work.
* Electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads (eMARG) monitors maintenance during the Defect Liability Period (DLP).
Compliance and Enforcement:
* States sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to provide adequate maintenance funds as a prerequisite for scheme participation.
* Release of Central Share of Programme funds is conditional on timely release of maintenance funds by States/UTs.
* Certification of maintenance fund release is required for proposals submitted after May (at least 50%) and November (100%).
* The Ministry reviews maintenance funding and execution in meetings with States/UTs.
Impact Analysis:
State Governments:
* Impact: Responsible for budgeting, allocating, and executing maintenance of PMGSY roads, including adherence to contract terms and rectification of substandard work. Subject to monitoring and potential funding restrictions based on compliance.
* Action Required: Ensure adequate funds are budgeted and allocated to a separate maintenance account. Timely release of funds. Comply with MoU commitments. Rectify unsatisfactory work identified by National Quality Monitors. Complete periodic inspections.
Contractors:
* Impact: Responsible for fulfilling the initial five-year maintenance contracts and potentially subsequent zonal maintenance contracts.
* Action Required: Perform maintenance work as per contract terms and rectify defects during the defect liability period.
Ministry of Rural Development:
* Impact: Responsible for monitoring and ensuring compliance with maintenance obligations.
* Action Required: Continue to monitor maintenance work through National Quality Monitors and eMARG. Enforce compliance through conditional release of funds and regular review meetings.
Citizens/Road Users:
* Impact: Benefit from well-maintained rural roads, improving connectivity and accessibility.
* Action Required: Report any issues related to road maintenance to relevant authorities.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojana (PMGSY): A centrally sponsored scheme in India to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected habitations in rural areas.
Ministry of Rural Development: The Indian government ministry responsible for rural development programs, including PMGSY.
Uttar Pradesh: A state in India mentioned in the context of compliance with PMGSY maintenance fund provisions.
State Rural Roads Development Agencies: Agencies at the state level responsible for the implementation and management of rural road development projects, including PMGSY roads.
National Quality Monitors: Individuals appointed by the Ministry of Rural Development to assess the quality of construction and maintenance work on PMGSY roads.
electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads (eMARG): An e-governance solution implemented to monitor the maintenance of PMGSY roads during the Defect Liability Period (DLP).
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU): An agreement signed between the central government and each State/Union Territory committing them to provide adequate funds for the maintenance of PMGSY roads.
Defect Liability Period (DLP): A period, typically five years, following the completion of road construction during which the contractor is responsible for rectifying any defects in the work.
O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2735
ANSWERED ON 05/08/2025
SPECIAL FUNDS FOR PMGSY
2735. Shri NeerajMaurya:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has issued any directions to all State
Governments to make provisions for seperate funds for the
maintenance and to repair of the road constructed under the
Pradhan MantriGraminSadakYojana (PMGSY);
(b) if so, the details thereof, State-wise;
(c) whether the Government has taken any action against various
States including Uttar Pradesh for not making provision of the
said funds or not contribute to the maintenance and repair of
the said roads;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) if not, the reasons therefor?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a) & (b): 'Rural road' is a State subject and as per the programme
guidelines of 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 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
Page 1 of 2consisting of 5-year maintenance, including renewal as per
maintenance cycle, from time to time, which are also financed by
the State Governments.
National Quality Monitors appointed by the Ministry are also
deputed to check the quality of maintenance work on PMGSY roads.
If any work is found having unsatisfactory grading, the concerned
State Government is informed to get it rectified/ repaired.
To further enhance the focus on maintenance of roads during
the defect liability period and also streamlining the delivery of
routine maintenance of PMGSY roads, electronic Maintenance of
Rural Roads (eMARG)-an e-governance solution, has
been implemented in all the States to monitor maintenance of
PMGSY works for five years from the date of completion (i.e. under
Defect Liability Period-DLP).
(c) to (e): Yes, the Ministry has taken several actions to
ensurecompliance with maintenance obligations, including
concerning Uttar Pradesh and other States. These are as follows:
(i) At the time of scheme implementation, each State/UT signs a
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to provide
adequate funds for both phases of maintenance — initial 5 years
post-construction and the subsequent 5-year maintenance cycle
(including renewals). This commitment is a prerequisite for
participation in the scheme.
(ii) Release of the Central Share of the Programme funds to the
States is conditional to the timely release of maintenance funds by
the States/ UTs. For proposals submitted after May, certification has
to the effect that at least 50% of the current year’s maintenance
requirement has been met and for proposals submitted after
November, certification of 100% release of the current year’s
requirement is required from the States/ UTs. The provisioning of
maintenance funds and undertaking of maintenance on PMGSY
roads is reviewed in the review meetings held with the States/ UTs.
The States are advised to complete their periodic inspections
regarding the maintenance of PMGSY roads in time.
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