NEW DELHI: The Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, chaired by MP Saptagiri Sankar Ulaka, on Thursday presented its 17th report in the Lok Sabha, raising serious concerns over the implementation and quality of roads built under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
The report, focusing on the Ministry of Rural Development’s flagship scheme for rural connectivity, called for urgent measures to curb low bidding practices in tenders, stressing that these often compromise the quality of roads constructed. The committee suggested a mechanism to hold back the difference between the quoted and estimated costs as security, to be released only after roads meet stipulated quality norms.
The committee took strong exception to the deteriorating quality of roads and warned that the very objective of the scheme, to ensure all-weather connectivity to rural areas, was being undermined. It emphasised that construction quality must never be compromised and called on the Department of Rural Development (DoRD) to intensify oversight and compliance.
It also noted persistent failures in post-construction maintenance, recommending that contractors strictly follow maintenance guidelines. The committee called for erring contractors to be blacklisted and underlined the need for tighter coordination between DoRD and nodal agencies to ensure roads are maintained properly after completion.
In a significant recommendation, the committee urged the DoRD to relax existing PMGSY road construction norms to allow state governments to adapt designs and widths based on local topography and transport demands. It also proposed that an additional 100 km of rural roads should be constructed on the recommendation of local MPs, with funding from the Consolidated Fund of India.
Recognising the lack of sustained monitoring, the report recommended mandatory and periodic physical inspections of PMGSY roads. It called for a fresh identification of roads that have fallen into disrepair and suggested they be rehabilitated either under a dedicated initiative or through inclusion in the next round of the scheme.
The committee also recommended revising the road survey under PMGSY-IV, suggesting it be updated using the latest population data to ensure fair and need-based allocation. It stressed that local Members of Parliament must be consulted during the survey process and their approval should be mandatory.
The committee also recommended that MPs’ inputs be taken on a priority basis when selecting roads for construction. Their experience and insights, the report noted, should play a key role in planning, monitoring and executing rural road projects.