International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

E-ISSN 0976-3945

Research Article

SOME STRATEGIES FOR SUSTAINABLE

MAINTENANCE OF RURAL ROADS IN INDIA
Agarwal, P. K1* , Singh, A. P. 2
Address for Correspondence
* 1Associate Professor, Department of Civil Engineering, Maulana Azad National Institute of
Technology, Bhopal 462051, India
2
M.Tech (Transportation Engg.), Department of Civil Engineering, Maulana Azad National
Institute of Technology, Bhopal 462051, India
E mail pka9@yahoo.com, ajayps33@gmail.com
ABSTRACT
Vast rural road network created recently in India has resulted in increased social and economic benefits all
around. However, these benefits would reduce substantially due to poor maintenance of these created
assets. Thus, in order to reap the benefits of created assets it is essential to maintain the rural road network
in India. Therefore, this study highlights some basic issues for sustainable maintenance of rural roads. This
study also identifies some strategies for rational uses of limited resources available for maintenance,
strategies to provide required level of funding, strategies to strengthen the institutional measures and
strategies for developing data base for sustainable maintenance of rural road network in India. A basic
framework is also presented that can be used for developing a maintenance management system for rural
roads in India. It is expected that the finding of this study will be useful to preserve the benefits of huge
rural road assets created recently in India.

KEY WORDS: Maintenance Strategy, Rural Roads, PMGSY Scheme, Pavement Maintenance.
INTRODUCTION
The rural road network in India is huge and

maintenance of these rural roads. Thus, in

with the Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak

order to reap the benefits of created assets it

Yojna (PMGSY) the road length in rural

is essential to maintain this rural road

sector has increased many a fold. Under

network. Therefore, this study highlights

PMGSY scheme, over 2.65 million km of

some

rural roads have been constructed in India.

maintenance of rural roads. This study also

(NHAI, 2010). This huge rural road network

identifies some strategies for maintenance of

not

agricultural

rural roads in India. It is expected that the

production and the size of markets, but also

finding of this study will be useful to

provides

preserve the benefits of huge rural road

only

increases

better

the

prices

for

agriculture

basic

issues

for

produce, reduction in transport costs and the

assets created recently in India.

creation

BASIC ISSUES

of

off-farm

employment

sustainable

opportunities to the rural population in

The rural road network in India is operating

India. It also provides access to medical and

in vastly different social, economic and

educational facilities in rural areas (Sahoo,

climatic environments. Such large network

et.al., 2010). However, these benefits would

of rural roads will require even greater

reduce

emphasis on rural road maintenance. The

substantially

due

to

poor

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

E-ISSN 0976-3945

following points highlight the necessity for

due to poor maintenance of these

sustainable maintenance of rural roads in

created assets. Thus, in order to reap

India:

the benefits of created assets it is

If timely maintenance is ensured,

essential to maintain this rural road

the huge investments made in

network in India

construction of new roads or up

Use of locally available material,

gradation of roads give the desired

low

level of service throughout its

construction,

design life and beyond. Absence of

loading etc. results in a faster

timely maintenance results in severe

deterioration of the rural road

damages. Restoration works are

network. In turn, this result in

very expensive and time consuming.

greater demands on maintenance,

Vast rural road network has been

viz, more frequent repairs, involving

created in India recently under

additional requirement of manpower

PMGSY scheme. This has resulted

and materials, all adding up to

in increased social and economic

higher resources for maintenance.

benefits all around. However, these

The maintenance requirements for

benefits would reduce substantially

rural roads are given in Table 1.

specifications

for

increasing

their
traffic

Table 1 Detail of Maintenance Requirements for Rural Roads

S.
No.
1.

Maintenance
Activity

Requirements of Maintenance

Pavement
maintenance
Bridge /Culvert
Maintenance

3.

Drainage
maintenance

4.

Traffic signs,
Road Marking,
Road furniture
etc.

Provide safe, smooth driving condition, minimize rate of pavement

deterioration
Ensure all bridges and culvert structures are structurally sound, safe
smooth driving over deck and expansion joints, maintain structural
integrity.
Provide full capacity of drains at all times to ensure storm water is
rapidly and efficiently conducted away from road pavement and
structures
Safety of road users, Provide clear information for road users and
are structurally sound provide guidance to drivers and help prevent
vehicles running off the road. Provide clear information about
distances and to be structurally sound

5.

Vegetation

Provide safe driving conditions, maintain visibility, and keep tidy

2.

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International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

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Deteriorating road conditions, increasing

expensive and time consuming. Therefore,

traffic loading and shrinking resources have

providing required level of funding for

presented a complex challenge to the rural

maintenance is very essential. Some of the

road agencies for sustainable maintenance of

measures for funding rural road maintenance

rural roads (Sood, 1995). The institutional

are highlighted as follows:

arrangements

required

maintenance

also

to

requires

oversea

the

substantial

An assessment of funds required for

maintenance would be necessary so that

improvement. Another challenge can be

the

attributed to the lack of availability of large

incorporated in the annual budget.

volume of data required for this purpose.

demand

Grants

for

available

same

could

through

be

finance

Ven if this data is made available, the

commissions needs to be channelized

problem is how to manage and access the

for rural road maintenance.

data. Therefore, there is a need to identify

Raise additional resources by way of

strategies to provide required level of

levying a cess to meet the cost of

funding, strategies for rational uses of

maintenance of rural roads.

limited resources available for maintenance,

Capacity building of contractors-same

strategies to strengthen the institutional

set of facilities, as is provided to the

measures and strategies for developing data

contractors carrying out original works,

base for sustainable maintenance of rural

needs to be extended to contractors

road network in India.

carrying out maintenance work such as

MAINTENANCE STRATEGIES

providing plants and machinery etc.

As highlighted earlier, the main objective of

Rational Uses of Limited Resources

this study is to identify strategies for

It is also necessary that the scarcely

sustainable maintenance of rural roads in

available maintenance resources are utilized

India. The strategies identified during this

rationally (Agarwal, 2006). Some of the

study are presented in the following section:

measures for rational uses of limited

Provide Required Level of Funding

resources are highlighted as follows:

There is a continuous decline in the resource

There is a need to take up right

provisions for maintenance of rural roads in

maintenance by right method at right

India. Sufficient funds are not available for

time

regular maintenance of roads. Hence, timely

maintenance of rural roads. Therefore,

maintenance is not being carried out.

prioritization of maintenance activities

Absence of timely maintenance results in

should be carried out so as to make use

severe damages. Restoration works are very

IJAET/Vol.I/ Issue III/Oct.-Dec.,2010/304-311

for

achieving

sustainable

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

of available maintenance resources in a

E-ISSN 0976-3945

The rural road network should not be

rational manner (Agarwal, 2006).

seen in isolation, the entire road network

Scarcely available maintenance fund

maintenance should be planned properly

should not be utilize for works of capital

with

nature.

or

management system. A basic framework

strengthening of roads, repair of roads

as presented in Figure 1 can be used for

damaged by natural calamities should

developing

not be carried out from the available

management system.

The

up

gradation

an

appropriate

such

maintenance

maintenance

funds.

Figure 1: Basic Framework for Proposed Maintenance Management System

Table 2 Threshold Limits of Performance Indicators for Rural Roads

Riding quality
Very good
Good
Fair
Poor
Very poor

Roughness
IRI(m/Km)
< 4.5
4.5-5.5
5.5-6.7
6.7-8.5
>8.5

Average depth
(mm)
<2
2-5
5-13
13-25
>25

IJAET/Vol.I/ Issue III/Oct.-Dec.,2010/304-311

Rut Average Longitudinal

Depression (mm)
<3
3-4
4-5.5
5.5-7.3
>7.3

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

The rural road maintenance management

E-ISSN 0976-3945

There is a need to monitor the projected

requires data about the distress condition of

requirement of funds and its availability,

the rural road network and its deterioration,

checking out the physical and financial

performance

resources

progress of works as per the annual

appropriate

maintenance plan as well as quality of

required

standards
for

maintenance

and

selecting

work carried out by the field units

estimating

through maintenance contractors. A set

maintenance budget. Once the critical items

of performance indicators could also be

are

Maintenance

prepared so as to ensure that essential

Management System will actually select the

features of the maintenance are not lost

optimum

for

sight of. The threshold limits of various

improving the overall condition of the rural

performance indicators are given in

road network.(Hass,et.al.,1994).

Table 2 (Sahoo, et. al., 2010, Qiu. et. al.,

Strengthen the Institutional Measures

2000). These limits can be used as

There is a need to institutionalize rural road

terminal condition for different riding

maintenance

qualities for rural roads.

network

strategies,

level

found

ranking
rural

and

road

maintenance

with

conducting

strategies

sufficient

dedicated

funding, scientific planning and appropriate

Developing Data Base

institutional development. Some of the

Another major constraint in sustainable

measures to institutionalize rural road

maintenance

maintenance are highlighted as follows:

requirement of huge maintenance data to be

of

rural

roads

is

the

There is a need to develop a dedicated

obtained from the road network which is

planning cell to oversee the follow up

largely geographical spread. And, even if the

actions required for data collection,

data becomes available, the problem remains

assessment of funds, development of

how to access and manage this huge data. If

contract documents, timely call of

this data is systematically documented by

tenders and award of work, timely

developing information system, it will be

release of funds, preparation of annual

highly useful for managing rural roads

maintenance plan etc.

network

There is a need to develop an effective

standards methods it is often difficult to

mechanism for monitoring so that the

determine what information is valuable,

status of maintenance activity being

what trends are present and what decisions

implemented is available. There is need

are correct. Considering the complications in

for

institutional

developing, updating and processing road

measures to keep a track of the

related information there is a need to adopt

maintenance activities and list out areas

new concepts of information technology for

where no action is being taken or only

design and development of rural road

partial action is being taken.

network maintenance management system.

strengthening

the

Adoption
IJAET/Vol.I/ Issue III/Oct.-Dec.,2010/304-311

maintenance.

of

However,

Geographic

using

Information

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

Systems (GIS) into this area, can tackle

many

of

these

limitations

E-ISSN 0976-3945

Rural road component information can

be stored in the GIS data base by

(www.gisdevelopment.net).

location and attribute so that it can be

GIS can plays an important and efficient

inventoried

role in rural road maintenance management

maintenance. GIS can rapidly retrieve

and support all activities from planning,

attribute data from the rural road data

analysis and decision making. Therefore;

base and automatically generate maps to

necessary GIS based database and a GIS

meet specific needs such as identifying

Platform should be created for rural roads in

maintenance locations. GIS is a logical

India. Various advantages of using GIS in

approach for managing rural road

Rural road maintenance management are

maintenance

identified and can be summarized as follows

analysis

(Lee. et. al., 1996):

descriptions

Many rural road agencies are now able

to use GIS due to falling cost and GIS

and

of

identified

programmes,
rural
and

whereby

road

section

for

sections
deficiency

could be maintained by location.

Innovative analysis allows for new ways

increasing overfriendliness.

to look at old problems by combining

GIS is a logical approach for rural road

models with what if analysis to

maintenance management where rural

provide

road maintenance data such as pavement

multidimensional questions quickly. A

condition data etc can be maintained by

GIS can display deficient sections, can

location.

A vast amount of data is

group sections by deficiencies, can be

required to characterize and entire rural

used to build projects through spatial

road

selection, and can compute impacts of

network

and

the

data

are

continuously being updated or changed

as rural road pavement deteriorates or is

answers

to

complex,

various maintenance strategies.

Allocation of resources for maintenance

rehabilitated. A GIS can provide an

may be made on the basis of lane-

integrated tool set for managing this

kilometers in a geographic area and

information [Lee et al, 1996]. Thus, GIS

corresponding condition ratings. Rural

is useful to store and access the wide

road maintenance management system

range of data (i.e. rural road network

based on GIS will thus make more

data, various distress condition, traffic,

equitable distribution of resources and a

materials,

maintenance,

more visual medium for maintenance

rehabilitation etc.) needed in rural road

management of huge rural road network

maintenance

and

in India. The multiple functionality

current

afforded by GIS distinguishes it from

graphically

design,

management
displays

the

condition of the network and future

older

condition projection.

visualization

IJAET/Vol.I/ Issue III/Oct.-Dec.,2010/304-311

technologies.
capability,

The

geo-

analytical

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

capability,

integration

of

multiple

levying a cess,

functionalities within one environment,

and database management features are

E-ISSN 0976-3945

capacity building of

contractors for maintenance etc.

o

It is also necessary that the scarcely

some of the special features what makes

available maintenance resources are

GIS a system different from any other.

utilized

These aspects of GIS technology are the

measures for rational uses of limited

decisive criteria to adopt it for rural road

resources

maintenance management systems.

maintenance

rationally.
are

Some

of

prioritization
activities,

the
of

scarcely

CONCLUSIONS

available maintenance fund should not

Some of the important conclusions drawn

be utilize for works of capital nature,

from the present study can be summarized

development of appropriate maintenance

as follows:

management system for rural roads in

Road network has resulted in increased

India etc. A basic framework for

social and economic benefits in rural

development

India. However, these benefits would

management system for rural road is

reduce substantially due to lack of

also presented.

maintenance of rural roads. Thus, in

such

maintenance

There is a need to institutionalize rural

order to reap the benefits of created

road

assets it is essential to maintain the rural

dedicated funding, scientific planning

road network.

and

This study identifies some strategies for

development. Some of the measures to

sustainable maintenance of rural roads

institutionalize rural road maintenance

in India like strategies to provide

are to develop a dedicated planning cell,

required level of funding, strategies for

to develop an effective mechanism for

rational uses of limited resources,

monitoring of

strategies to strengthen the institutional

being implemented etc.

measures and strategies for developing

of

maintenance

with

appropriate

sufficient
institutional

maintenance

activity

Another major constraint in sustainable

data base for sustainable maintenance of

maintenance of rural roads is the

rural road network in India.

requirement of huge maintenance data to

Absence of timely maintenance results

be obtained from the road network

in severe damages. Therefore, providing

which is largely geographical spread

required

considering

level

of

funding

for

the

complications

in

maintenance is very essential. Some of

developing, updating and processing

the measures identified for funding rural

road related information there is a need

road maintenance are proper assessment

to adopt new concepts of information

of funds required for maintenance, to

technology for design and development

raise additional resources by way of

of rural road network maintenance

management

IJAET/Vol.I/ Issue III/Oct.-Dec.,2010/304-311

system.

Adoption

of

International Journal of Advanced Engineering Technology

Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

into this area, can tackle many of these
limitations. GIS can plays an important
and

efficient

role

in

rural

road

maintenance management and support

all activities from planning, analysis and
decision making. Therefore; necessary
GIS based database and a GIS Platform
should be created for rural roads in
India.
REFERENCES

Agarwal, P.K., Road Condition

Evaluation, Prioritization and Optimal
Resource Allocation for Rural road
Maintenance at Network Level, Ph. D.
thesis,
Department
of
Civil
Engineering, IIT Kanpur,
Kanpur,
2006
Haas, R., Hudson, W. R. and
Zaniewski, J, Modern Pavement
Management, Krieger Publishing
company, Malabar, Florida USA 1994.
Lee, H.N., Jitprasithsiri, S., Lee, H., and
Sorcic,
R.G.,
Development
of
Geographic Information System
Based Pavement Management System
for Salt Lake City, Transportation
research record 1524, TRB, National
Research Council, Washington, D.C.,
1996, pp. 16-24.
NHAI,http://www.nhai.org/road
netwok.htm,website
of
National
Highway Authority of India, 2010.
Qiu, Y., Dennis, N.D. and Elliott,
R.P.,(2000) Design Criteria for
Pavement Deformation of Sub grade
Soils in Flexible Pavements for Low
Volume Roads, Journal of the Japanese
Geotechnical Society of Soils and
Foundations, Vol.40, No.1, pp.1-10
Sood, V.K. Rural Road Maintenance
Strategy- An Overview, proceeding
ICORT 1995, Department of Civil
Engineering, University of Roorkee,
1995
Sahoo, U.C., Reddy, M.A. and Reddy,
K.S.,(2010), Rational Design Criteria
for Sustainable Rural Roads, Grameen
Sampark, News Letter, National Rural
Road Development Agency (NRRDA),

IJAET/Vol.I/ Issue III/Oct.-Dec.,2010/304-311

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Ministry of Rural Development, GOI,

New Delhi, 2010. pp 34-39.
www.gisdevelopment.net, site accessed
in March, 2010