Govt Strengthens Road Safety With New Maintenance Guidelines

In a significant policy step toward safer and more durable road infrastructure, the state government has issued a comprehensive set of guidelines for the maintenance of state highways, major district roads, and other district roads. The initiative, rolled out by the Public Works Department (PWD), is aimed at providing safe, sustainable, and efficient connectivity for people and goods while improving the overall quality and longevity of the state's road network — particularly in urban areas where road deterioration and public complaints have been most acute.

Overview of the State Road Maintenance Guidelines

The new guidelines represent a departure from the ad hoc approach that has historically characterised road maintenance in many Indian states. Rather than responding to complaints after roads deteriorate, the state government has introduced a structured, proactive framework that assigns clear responsibility for every stretch of road under PWD jurisdiction — leaving no section unaccounted for and no complaint unaddressed.

The guidelines apply to state highways, major district roads, and other district roads, covering the full spectrum of PWD-managed road infrastructure. By establishing a tiered maintenance model with defined contractual obligations, the government aims to ensure that road quality is maintained consistently across the network — from high-traffic urban corridors to rural district roads that connect communities to essential services.

The overarching objective is clear: zero complaints and full accountability across all PWD road sections, with particular emphasis on urban pockets where road conditions directly affect daily commutes, commercial activity, and public safety.

Structured Accountability Across PWD Road Sections

Every Road Stretch Must Be Covered

A foundational principle of the new guidelines is that no stretch of road under PWD jurisdiction should fall outside a defined maintenance framework. As per the guidelines, every road stretch must at all times be covered under one of three arrangements — ongoing development work, a Defect Liability Period (DLP), or a designated maintenance contract.

This three-tier coverage model closes a critical gap that has long allowed road stretches to fall into disrepair between the completion of one project and the commencement of the next. Under the new framework, contractors responsible for road development projects are explicitly mandated to maintain those stretches throughout the DLP — ensuring that newly built or upgraded roads are kept in good condition during the period immediately following construction, when defects are most likely to emerge.

Maintenance Contracts for All Other Stretches

For road stretches not currently under active development or a DLP, the government has mandated the adoption of either Short-Term Maintenance Contracts (STMC) or Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC), depending on the road's current condition and its position in the state's broader development timeline. This binary model ensures that every road has a designated responsible party at all times, eliminating the ambiguity that has historically led to neglected stretches and deteriorating road safety conditions.

Short-Term and Long-Term Maintenance Contract Models

Short-Term Maintenance Contracts

Short-Term Maintenance Contracts are designed as bridging instruments for road stretches where major development work is anticipated to commence within the next twelve months. Typically spanning one year, STMCs ensure that roads are kept in an acceptable condition during the interim period before larger upgrades begin — preventing the deterioration that often occurs when roads are left unattended in the lead-up to redevelopment.

Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts

Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts represent the long-term maintenance model under the new guidelines. PBMCs are intended for structurally sound road stretches where no major widening or upgrading is planned for the next five to seven years. By tying contractor payments to measurable performance outcomes rather than activity-based inputs, the PBMC model creates strong financial incentives for contractors to maintain road quality proactively and consistently over an extended period.

Performance-Based Maintenance Contract Components

Three Distinct Maintenance Components

The PBMC model is structured around three clearly defined components, each addressing a different dimension of road upkeep and safety.

• Rectification Works, to be completed within the first six months of the contract, cover the most critical immediate repairs — including pothole filling, crack sealing, concrete slab replacement, culvert cleaning, jungle clearance along road margins, and the installation of road signage. These works address existing deficiencies and bring the road to a baseline standard of safety and functionality.

• Periodic Maintenance encompasses works that need to be carried out at regular intervals over the contract period, including profile correction, patchwork, bituminous concrete overlays, shoulder repair, and road marking. These interventions preserve the structural integrity and surface quality of the road over time, reducing the frequency and cost of major repairs.

• Routine Maintenance is conducted on a monthly lump-sum basis, covering day-to-day upkeep activities that keep roads clean, clear, and safe for users. The government has established a benchmark cost of Rs 5.13 lakh per kilometre per year for routine maintenance, providing a standardised reference for budgeting and contract pricing across the state.

  
  

Annual Planning and Budget Allocation Framework

October to December Planning Window

To ensure that maintenance work is planned, sanctioned, and tendered in a timely manner, the PWD has directed its engineers to prepare Annual Maintenance Requirements between October and December each year. This planning window is designed to allow the government sufficient time to issue financial sanctions and complete the bidding and contracting process before the end of the financial year — eliminating the delays that have historically resulted in funds lapsing and roads going unmaintained.

Streamlined Budget Routing

The department has also streamlined its budget allocation processes, ensuring that maintenance funds are routed through appropriate mechanisms that match the nature and scale of the work required. This financial restructuring aims to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks and ensure that money earmarked for road maintenance reaches the field efficiently and is deployed effectively.

Digital Monitoring and Transparency Measures

Software and Mobile App-Based Defect Monitoring

One of the most forward-looking elements of the new guidelines is the introduction of a software and mobile application-based defect monitoring system. Field engineers will be required to upload real-time defect data, repair timelines, and action taken reports directly through the platform — creating a live, auditable record of road conditions and maintenance activity across the state.

The system is designed to enable automated penalty calculations for contractors who fail to meet their contractual obligations within stipulated timeframes, as well as compliance tracking that gives department officials and senior management a real-time overview of maintenance performance across the network.

Quality Control and IRC Compliance

Frequent inspections and quality control checks will be conducted in accordance with Indian Roads Congress (IRC) standards and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways guidelines, ensuring that maintenance work meets nationally recognised benchmarks for road safety and durability. This commitment to standards-based quality control reflects the government's recognition that road maintenance is not merely an administrative function but a public safety imperative that directly affects the lives of millions of road users every day.