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O.I.H.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1415
ANSWERED ON 28/07/2026
UPDATION OF DATA ON E-MARG PORTAL
1415. Shri Lalji Verma:
Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has taken cognizance that permanent
roads are being laid directly on soil without adequate bitumen
in the rural areas of Uttar Pradesh, if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether it is true that maintenance data is updated on the e-
Marg portal, rural youth are facing serious accidents while
commuting to markets and educational institutions due to
physical potholes on these roads, if so, the details thereof;
(c) whether the Government will revise the standards to increase
the thickness and load bearing capacity of rural roads in view of
the pressure from cargo-carrying vehicles, if so, the details
thereof; and
(d) whether Social Audit reports from local Gram Sabhas will be
made mandatory before road construction in rural Uttar Pradesh
to curb corruption?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT
(SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)
(a): Roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)
are constructed as per the Standard Bidding Document (SBD), the
Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) Specifications for Rural Roads,
and the standards prescribed by the Indian Road Congress (IRC).
PMGSY roads are built with properly designed pavement layers,
including sub-grade, Granular Sub-Base (GSB), base course, and
bituminous surfacing using the prescribed quality and quantity of
materials.
Page 1 of 3To ensure construction quality, a three-tier Quality Management
System is followed:
I. First Tier: Quality checks by the contractor and the Programme
Implementation Unit (PIU);
II. Second Tier: Inspections by State Quality Monitors (SQMs)
appointed by the State Rural Roads Development Agency
(SRRDA); and
III. Third Tier: Independent inspections by National Quality
Monitors (NQMs) empanelled by the National Rural
Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA).
(b): The electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads (e-MARG) portal is
an enterprise GIS-based solution for monitoring routine maintenance
of PMGSY roads during their 5-year Defect Liability Period (DLP) and
post-DLP. Maintenance activities and contractor payments are
performance-linked and verified via geo-tagged images. While
localized potholes or surface damages may occur due to severe
weather or heavy traffic loads, immediate repairs are mandated
under contract conditions. Citizen feedback and complaints
regarding potholes/damaged roads are received through the "Meri
Sadak" mobile application, enabling field officers to take time-bound
corrective action.
(c): PMGSY roads are designed in accordance with the relevant IRC
standards, keeping in view the expected traffic, soil conditions and
local requirements. Under PMGSY-III, the focus has been shifted
towards consolidating Through Routes (TRs) and Major Rural Links
(MRLs) connecting inter-alia to Gramin Agricultural Markets (GrAMs),
Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals. Higher design criteria,
including increased pavement thickness, improvements in sub-
grades strengths, and improved carriageway width upto 5.5m have
been allowed to handle higher traffic volume on these routes. Design
specifications are continuously updated by Indian Road Congress
(IRC) and the same is followed by the Ministry. However, if the
States/UTs propose specifications above the permitted IRC norms,
the same is permissible with the additional cost being borne by the
concerned States/UTs.
(d): Under PMGSY guidelines, transparency and community
participation are integral. Citizen Information Boards are installed at
construction sites detailing project cost, technical specifications,
and maintenance period details. Community engagement and public
monitoring are facilitated through the Meri Sadak App and public
accessibility of road status via the OMMAS/PMGSY Portal. QR codes
Page 2 of 3have also been made mandatory on all PMGSY roads to enable the
citizen to have all the information about the specific road. While
project execution and technical implementation are the primary
responsibility of the concerned State Quality Control Cell (SQCC) and
Program Implementation Units (PIUs), quality assurance is ensured
through a three-tier monitoring system comprising State Quality
Monitors (SQMs) and independent National Quality Monitors (NQMs).
Public disclosures and social accountability mechanisms are
encouraged in coordination with State Governments.
As part of PMGSY guidelines, all States are required to include a
simple, non-formal “transect walk” to be organized by the Assistant
Engineer along with Panchayat Pradhan, local patwari and Junior
Engineer at the time of preparation of DPRs. At the end of the
Transect Walk, a Gram Sabha Meeting shall be held and alignment
shall be finalised after recording the issues that arose during the walk
and the action taken/proposed to resolve the issues. This shall be
reduced to in writing as Minutes of the Gram Sabha Meeting signed
by the Pradhan/Panch, Intermediate/District Panchayat Member, if
present, Secretary of the Gram Panchayat, other officials and Gram
Sabha Members present. A copy of these Minutes and photographic
and video graphic records of the Transect Walk shall be attached to
the finalised DPR.
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