From To Dr. K.S.Palanisamy,L.A.S., The District Collector, Director, All Districts. Rural Development & Panchayat Raj Department, Panagal Building, Saidapet, Chennai-15, Lr Ne 57779/2019/TU1 Dated: 05.11.2019 Sir/Madam, Sub: Upgradation / Strengthening of Rural Roads under Fourteenth Central Finance Commission Grant- utilization of funds during 2019-20- Instructions issued- Reg. Ref: 1. G.0, (Ms) No.108. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj(PR-1) Department Dated: 21.09.2017 2. G.O.(Ms)No.34 Rural Development and Panchayat Raj(PR-1) Department Dated: 02.03,2016 In the reference 1“ cited, the Government have issued guidelines for the utilization of Fourteenth Central Finance Commission Basic and Performance Grants released to the Village Panchayats. The Fourteenth CFC has recommended that the Grants shall be utilized for fulfilling the basic functions / delivery of services by the Village Panchayats. Hence, tl Grant is intended to be used to support and strengthen the delivery of basic civic services such as water supply, sanitation, street lighting, rural roads and well being of the community etc. For the year 2018-19, Rs.671.54 crore has been released to all Village Panchayats for the account number-IX. ‘As per the guidelines issued vide reference 2™ -d, every Village Panchayat should prepare the Village Panchayat Development Plan for taking up works / delivery of services under Fourteenth Central Finance Commission Grant. The works identified by the Village Panchayats should be placed before Grama sabha for its approval before taking it up for execution, The guidelines also permit that works may be taken up by convergence of other funds and schemes. Accordingly, + The Village Panchayat can take up works by dovetailing funds under centrally sponsored schemes, SFC Grant, Assigned Revenue and General Funds of Village Panchayats in addition to the Fourteenth Finance Commission Grants to create/improve infrastructure facilities in rural areas.‘+ The works / projects can be taken up by dovetalling funds from Capital Grant Fund (CGF) of fifth State Finance Commission and 14" Central Finance Commission Grant. The funding of the vast network rural roads of 1.49 lakh Kms is not plausible through a single scheme window, the department channels funding from various other State and Centrally sponsored schemes like NABARD, MLA-CDS, SCPAR, PMGSY, MP-LADS and Central Finance Commission Grants etc. The department continuously explores and utilizes funds from other avenues for the rural road improvement in addition to 14" Central Finance Commission Grant. The vast rural road network can be maintained in serviceable condition only through these resources. As connectivity is one of the major factors in the delivery of services, representations are being received from the various quarters for Upgradation /Strengthening of rural roads. The utility values of these link roads are listed below: a. Providing direct link from major roads tike NH, SH and MDR to habitations. b, Roads inter connecting habitations within a village. ¢. Approach roads to various amenities like market centre, Educational and Health centres etc., d, Roads serving as a small link in between a continuous alignment of different category of roads. e. Roads which serve as end mile connectivity at the end of important major roads. In view of the importance of maintenance of link roads In rural connectivity, 2936 nos. of roads were taken to a total length of 1504 Km at a total cost of Rs.300.33 Crore in Convergence of Capital Grant Fund of State Finance Commission and Fourteenth Central Finance Commission Grant during 2018-19. Considering the importance of the link roads, it is suggested that wherever possible District Collectors may allow the lage Panchayats to take up link roads, in 14" Central Finance Commission Grants during the year 2019-20. ‘The 14" Central Finance Commission guidelines also permits 1. Upgradation of the Non - BT roads to BT standards 2. Strengthening of existing damaged BT roadsIn view of the above and also due to scarce resources and to have effective execution of works, the following guidelines are suggested to adopted. ¢) Priortization of roads The Priortization of roads should be based on the following criteria : * The roads proposed shall be selected only from the list of updated Village Panchayat and Panchayat Union roads which are available in the tnrd.gov.in website, and roads without “road code” should not be taken up. © Only the Roads with Carrlageway width of 3.75m for single lane shall be proposed. In the case of roads having 3.00m width, proper justification should be produced for taking up the road. * Roads that have been improved by Panchayat Unions or Village Panchayats under any Rural Development Schemes within the last 5 years or nearing the timeline should not be taken up. © The roads passing through newly created/developed layouts with thin concentration of households should not be proposed. The Block Development Officer (VP) and Deputy Block Development Officer shall inspect the roads and ensure that the roads are taken up as per the priority. Order of priority * Providing direct link from major roads like NH, SH and MDR to habitations. ‘+ Upgrading and strengthening of bus-plying and mini / small bus plying roads ‘+ Important link roads connecting market places, Educational / Health Services and road which have good utility value. ‘+ BT road connecting the habitations wit in the Panchayat, Including culverts. 4) Preparation of Estimates + After identification of works by the Village Panchayat and approval by the Gram Sabha, actual estimates should be prepared by the Assistant Engineer/Junior Engineer and other technical officers after visiting the site. Estimates prepared by the Engineers should be randomly checked by the Assistant Executive Engineer (RD) and the Executive Engineer (RD) in order to ensure actual and correct estimates only are prepared,The Estimate for roads should compulsorily have the photograph of the site at every 100 m distance with latitude and longitude details and the geo-tagged photographs should be attached to the estimate itself to enable the AEE(RD) / EE (RD) and BDO / AD / PD, DRDA to test verify the need of the work. + The photographs of the proposed location for CD works, retaining walls should be enclosed. The details of transect walk should be part of the Detailed Project Report. * Estimates should be prepared after carrying out detailed topographical and soil surveys and the proposed thickness of the road should be based on existing sub- grade CBR, traffic intensity and existing crust. Approximations based on physical observations are not at all permitted. + Camber should be provided at 3 to 3.5 % for Bituminous pavement * Super elevation should be 7% for plains and 10% for hilly areas and Minimum super elevation should not be less than percentage of the camber * Use of Automatic Paver Finisher and other equipments are permitted for laying of Bituminous layers. + Improvement of berms and widening of shoulders to the required standards is mandatory. The berms should be compacted simultaneously along with the pavement. + Cross drainage and protective works should be taken up along with the road, without omission, wherever necessary. Drainage (Earthen/masonry) must be provided as per site condition + Road Safety Measures should be incorporated in the estimate. ) Administrative sanction The District Collectors shall, on getting the proposals for Administrative Sanction, depute officials to test check the need and genuineness of the works identified and correctness of the estimates prepared, The District Collector should accord Administrative San n after verification through the Project Director, DRDA, Executive Engineer (RD), Assistant Directors, AEEs and other Zonal Officers. f) Technical Sanction Technical sanction shall be accorded by the competent authority as per G.O. (Ms) No. 111, RD&PR Department dated. 21.8.2018.9) Mode of Execution ‘The works shall be executed by following the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act, 1998 and Rules 2000. In order to ensure uniformity and adherence to e-tendering procedures the Upgradation/Strengthening of the roads shall be tendered at the DRDA. The Project Director, District Rural Development Agency shall be the tender inviting authority and the Chairman/District Collector is the Tender accepting authority for all the works. For the purpose of tendering, the Upgradation/Strengthening of the roads ina Block should be packaged with value of each package not exceeding Rs.50 lakhs. Tendering, Issue of work order, Agreement, Passing of Bills etc shall be done at the DRDA. The payment will be released to the concerned contractor by the Special Officer /BDO(VP), based on the proceedings of the District Collector, The District Collector is the overall authority for implementation of scheme at District level, The measurements shall be recorded by the Block Engineer/Assistant Engineer and the Check Measurement shall be done by the concerned Assistant Executive Engineer(RD) as indicated in G.O, (Ms) No. 111, RD&PR (PR.1) Dept., dated. 21.08.2018. The Executive Engineer (RD) shall super check the works as per the norms indicated in G.O. (Ms) No. 54, RD&PR (PR.1) Dept., dated. 22.05.2014, The instructions of the National Green Tribunal regarding onsite compliance during construction of roads shall be strictly followed. h) Quality Control + Necessary Quality control tests to be conducted as per norms, + A separate QC register should be maintained for each work and the record of tests shall be entered by the Block Engineer/ Assistant Engineer and verified by the Assistant Executive Engineer (RD) and Executive Engineer (RD). + The quality of the works shall be verified through independent State Quality Monitors. QC register shall be submitted along with the bills and the same shall be verified before release of payment. i) Geo tagging of work All the works taken up under the scheme should be geo-tagged before the commencement of work through the “Thittam” Mobile App. The status of works shall be uploaded through the Mobile App on Real Time basis.J) Documentation/ Utilisation certificates: Proper documentation of the works should be done capturing various processes in the implementation of the scheme. Photographs of the site before undertaking the work, during execution of the work and after completion of the work should be taken and properly documented and to be submitted to the Directorate. Utilisation certificates should be got from alll the Village Panchayats and consolidated report should be sent by the District Collectors to the Directorate for utilisation of funds. The District Collectors are requested to Upgrade/Strengthen the rural roads, by using 14" Central Finance Commission Grants Wherever there is need based on the quantum of allotment to the Village Panchayats, The road works should be executed as per the instructions and guidelines given above. The following schedule should be adhered to for the implementation: Issue of Administrative Sanction : to the works Technical sanction and issue of Common Tender Notice at the District level Downloading of. _~— Tender documents Last date for subm Tender & Tender Opening ing of : Before 08 .11.2019 Before 11.11.2019 Before 13.11.2019 Before 22.11.2019 Sd/- K.S.Palanisamy Director Rural Development and Panchayat Raj aot, for Director