Latest news with #PMGSY
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why the Centre wants QR codes on roads built under PM Gram Sadak Yojana
Earlier this month, the Union Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) asked states to attach QR codes on all maintenance information display boards for roads built under the Prime Minister Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY). The first phase of the PMGSY was launched on December 25, 2000, by the then NDA government headed by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to improve rural infrastructure through road construction. The second phase was launched in 2013. Another component, called the Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA), was launched in 2016 for the construction of rural roads in LWE-affected areas. The third phase was launched in 2019. On September 11, 2024, the Central government approved phase IV to provide all-weather road connectivity to 25,000 unconnected habitations of population size 500+ in plains, 250+ in northeastern and hill states/UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks, Desert areas) and 100+ in LWE-affected areas (notified by the Ministry of Home Affairs in nine states), as per Census 2011. Starting as a totally Centrally Sponsored Scheme, the funding pattern was modified from 2015-16 to 60:40 between the Centre and states (except for northeastern and Himalayan states). A total of 62,500 km of road length is proposed to be constructed for Rs 70,125 crore from 2024-25 to 2028-29. Since the scheme was launched, a total road length of 8,36,850 km has been sanctioned, of which 7,81,209 km has been completed, as per information available on the scheme dashboard. What has the government planned now? The National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), which comes under the MoRD and provides technical support for implementing the PMGSY, has written to all states about QR codes. The aim is to get public feedback about the quality and maintenance of roads. Under the PMGSY, all roads after the completion of construction are maintained by the contractor for five years. This is done using a mobile-cum-web-based e-MARG (electronic Maintenance of Rural Roads) system. It is an e-governance solution for managing and monitoring rural road maintenance. The contractor carries out the routine maintenance and submits bills on eMARG. The field engineering staff carry out Routine Inspection (RI) to verify the maintenance by the contractor, and based on geo-tagged photographs captured during RI, the Performance Evaluation (PE) is done based on 12 parameters of Routine Maintenance activities, according to the NRIDA. As a whole, maintenance comes under the ambit of state governments, with rural roads being a state subject. The NRIDA also deploys its National Level Monitors (NLMs) to check the construction quality of roads. The NLMs reports have flagged substandard works under the PMGSY in the past. However, there was no existing mechanism to capture people's feedback about the quality of maintenance. How will the new system work? To enable easy sharing of feedback, a utility has been created in eMARG. A QR code can be generated for each road, to be displayed on the maintenance information display board on the road. The board can contain instructions for registering feedback in English and the local language. 'Any road user/public can scan the QR code using a mobile phone and will get all details of the road. Users can click photographs on the road and can flag any maintenance related issue in the feedback window,' according to the NRIDA. The citizens' feedback photos will be integrated with the relevant Routine Inspection. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning will be employed to analyse these photographs to advise on Performance Evaluation (PE) marks. All programs implementing units, while giving PE marks, shall be responsible for checking these photos. 'This way not only will the public participate in ensuring maintenance on the roads but, the photographs clicked by the users will also help the engineering staff to do a realistic performance evaluation. Thus, eMARG will be a more transparent system for ensuring Routine Maintenance for 5 years,' states the NRIDA letter sent to all additional chief secretaries/principal secretaries/secretaries in-charge of the PMGSY of all states and Union Territories on June 2. According to officials, trials were carried out in various states, including a pilot project in Himachal Pradesh. After this, the new facility was made fully functional.
Hindustan Times
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Amit Shah arrives in Bengaluru to inaugurate Adichunchanagiri University campus
Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Thursday evening, to a warm welcome from BJP leaders and supporters. On Friday, Shah will inaugurate the Bengaluru Campus of Adichunchanagiri University, further highlighting the Centre's focus on strengthening higher education infrastructure in the region. In a post on X, Shah wrote, "Reached Bengaluru (Karnataka). Tomorrow, I will attend the inauguration ceremony of the Bengaluru Campus of the Adichunchanagiri University." During his visit, Shah also met senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa. Sharing a photo from their meeting on X, he wrote, "Met senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru." Meanwhile, Shah will embark on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh on June 22 and 23, underlining the central government's commitment to bolstering internal security and development in the region. The visit is expected to strengthen coordination between the Centre and the state in combating left-wing extremism and accelerating growth, especially in vulnerable and backwards districts. Shah will begin his visit at Atal Nagar in Nava Raipur on June 22, where he will lay the foundation stones and inaugurate key central government institutions to enhance regional administrative and scientific capabilities. Among the major projects is the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), the newly constructed campus in Raipur, part of a broader national initiative to strengthen forensic infrastructure and criminal justice systems. On June 23, Amit Shah will visit Narayanpur, one of the state's most Naxal-affected districts. He will meet security personnel stationed in forward areas to boost morale and assess operational requirements. Shah will interact with local villagers and tribal communities to evaluate the impact of central development schemes such as the PM Awas Yojana, road connectivity projects under PMGSY, and skill development initiatives. The Home Minister will also review progress on rehabilitation colonies and welfare programs for families affected by insurgency.
India Gazette
20 hours ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
Amit Shah arrives in Bengaluru, to inaugurate Adichunchanagiri University campus
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 20 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah arrived in Karnataka's Bengaluru on Thursday evening, to a warm welcome from BJP leaders and supporters. On Friday, Shah will inaugurate the Bengaluru Campus of Adichunchanagiri University, further highlighting the Centre's focus on strengthening higher education infrastructure in the region. In a post on X, Shah wrote, 'Reached Bengaluru (Karnataka). Tomorrow, I will attend the inauguration ceremony of the Bengaluru Campus of the Adichunchanagiri University.' During his visit, Shah also met senior BJP leader and former Karnataka Chief Minister, BS Yediyurappa. Sharing a photo from their meeting on X, he wrote, 'Met senior BJP leader and former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru.' Meanwhile, Shah will embark on a two-day visit to Chhattisgarh on June 22 and 23, underlining the central government's commitment to bolstering internal security and development in the region. The visit is expected to strengthen coordination between the Centre and the state in combating left-wing extremism and accelerating growth, especially in vulnerable and backwards districts. Shah will begin his visit at Atal Nagar in Nava Raipur on June 22, where he will lay the foundation stones and inaugurate key central government institutions to enhance regional administrative and scientific capabilities. Among the major projects is the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), the newly constructed campus in Raipur, part of a broader national initiative to strengthen forensic infrastructure and criminal justice systems. On June 23, Amit Shah will visit Narayanpur, one of the state's most Naxal-affected districts. He will meet security personnel stationed in forward areas to boost morale and assess operational requirements. Shah will interact with local villagers and tribal communities to evaluate the impact of central development schemes such as the PM Awas Yojana, road connectivity projects under PMGSY, and skill development initiatives. The Home Minister will also review progress on rehabilitation colonies and welfare programs for families affected by insurgency. (ANI)
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
DM cracks whip on absent officials, orders salary halt
Varanasi: District Magistrate Jitendra Pratap Singh on Saturday took strong action against absent officials during a review meeting on CM Dashboard development work. Irked by their absence, he ordered the withholding of salaries and issuance of show-cause notices. Singh directed that the salary of the Executive Engineer of PMGSY and the District Minorities Welfare Officer be stopped. A show-cause notice was also issued to the Project Manager of the Bridge Corporation for failing to attend the meeting. In the same meeting, the District Magistrate instructed officials to increase the number of Aadhaar centres in the district from 262 to 500. He said that expanding Aadhaar services would facilitate easy updates to personal details such as address, name, mobile number, photographs, and biometrics. Reviewing construction projects exceeding Rs 1 crore, Singh emphasized timely completion and directed that any issues arising during execution be immediately reported to him or the Chief Development Officer on a daily basis. Expressing dissatisfaction over slow progress in the Family ID initiative, Singh warned the Social Welfare Officer, Disabled Persons Officer, District Probation Officer, DC MNREGA, DD Agriculture, and Basic Education Officer that failure to meet the June target would result in the suspension of their June salary. During the review of the Chief Minister's Rural Housing Scheme and the NIPUN Examination Assessment, Singh noted that the district's ranking stood at 'D'. He directed all concerned departments to improve the performance and achieve an 'A' grade by June 31, 2025. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Meeting resolves to expedite devpt projects in Madhubani
Madhubani: Fast-tracking development works and resolving public grievances were key outcomes of a district-level coordination and monitoring (DISHA) committee meeting held at the DRDA auditorium in Madhubani on Saturday. Chaired by MP Ramprit Mandal, the meeting brought together legislators, officials and public representatives to address key issues affecting the district. MP Mandal stressed the importance of collective effort. "The cooperation of all stakeholders is crucial for resolving district-level issues and accelerating development works," he said while urging attendees to work jointly for rapid progress. District magistrate Anand Sharma assured prompt action on concerns raised during the meeting. He announced that departmental teams would be formed to investigate complaints related to road conditions, black marketing of fertilisers and problems in water supply and health services. In the review of departmental performance, it was revealed that under the PMAY-Urban scheme, 4,139 houses were sanctioned between 2015-16 and 2018-19. Of these, 3,535 beneficiaries received the first instalment with disbursement continuing for subsequent phases. Also, 76 panchayat govt buildings have been constructed and land has been identified for more. Waste processing units have been completed in 319 out of 386 panchayats while plastic waste management facilities are operational or being set up in various blocks. Out of 1,09,996 identified beneficiaries, 85,265 have received incentive payments. The committee also discussed welfare and infrastructure schemes, including road repairs under PMGSY, agriculture and horticulture projects, drinking water supply through the Nal-Jal Yojana, MGNREGA, health services, food security and child development programmes. Officials assured that damaged roads would be made motorable before the monsoon. "All concerns have been noted, and necessary actions will be taken without delay," the DM said. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
