Centre keen on quality of roads

With complaints about poor quality of roads pouring in from across the States, the Union Rural Development Ministry has warned the contractors that their tenders may be terminated if they do not set up field laboratories as per norms to ensure durable roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gramin Sadak Yojna (PMGSY).

“Such a provision of setting up field level quality control laboratories and district level laboratories already exists in the Rural Road manual but it is hardly being followed. This casual approach on the part of the State Governments as well as contractors has led to the poor quality of the roads. We are getting several complaints from the people as well as public representatives about sub-standard roads,” said a senior official from the Rural Development Ministry.

“To ensure that the quality remains the hallmark of the centrally sponsored rural road scheme, we have now reminded the State Governments as well as contractors that “non-establishment of field lab by them within the specified period would constitute a fundamental breach of contract inviting termination”, he added.

The official said that “the laboratories are required to be provided with the equipments and trained staff. The laboratories of engineering colleges and other institutions can also be used for higher level of quality control testing.”At the laboratories, surveys and soil and materials tests can be conducted, ensuring rural roads having long life. Help of mobile laboratories can also be considered for the purpose.

As per the record available, during the period 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2014-15 (upto June, 2014), over 111 complaints relating to sub-standard works and delay in implementation of the PMGSY works have been received by the Ministry.Out of these, seven complaints have been sent to the respective State Governments for enquiry and appropriate action. In the case of remaining 104complaints, National Quality Monitorings were deputed for enquiry and out of these, in 57 cases, irregularities were noticed and these reports have been sent to the States for rectification and appropriate action, said the official.