If the nascent segment of rural roads must attract private participation to raise the quality bar,it needs to gain the confidence of the companies by doing its tendering processes right and offering government clearances upfront.Mahesh M Hiremath, COO, Karnataka Rural Roads Development Agency, one of the better state performers having upgraded nearly 15,000 km of rural roads to all-weather with an expenditure of Rs 3,371 crore under PMGSY.
FlashNews:
Project Kaundinya: India, Oman Must Collaborate on Green Shipping Corridor, Says Sonowal
Project Kaundinya: OneWeb Connectivity Powers Indian Navy’s Historic INSV Kaundinya Voyage
Project Kaundinya: INSV Kaundinya Voyage Revives India‑Oman 5,000-Year-Old Maritime Legacy
CII Suggests Mandates and Incentives to Drive India’s Green Hydrogen Economy
India’s Construction Equipment Demand Falls 9%, Exports Surge Amid Revival Prospects
Coal and the Grid: Why India Still Needs Baseload Power
RVNL to Build 200-Wagon POH Workshop in Odisha Under ₹2.01 Billion EPC Contract
NHAI Launches Internship Programme to Build Highway Talent Nationwide
Powerplay Rolls Out Procurement-Linked Credit to Unlock Contractor Cash Flows
IREDA Earns ‘Excellent’ MoU Rating for Fifth Year, Cementing Role in Clean Energy Financing
Inox Clean Energy Secures ₹31 Billion Equity at ₹500 Billion Valuation
Centre’s ₹2.35 Billion Port Push in Tamil Nadu, Sonowal Flags Maritime-Led Growth
Indian Railways to Roll Out 52 Reforms in 52 Weeks; Targets Single-Digit Accidents by FY2027
India Stays the Course as Combative Trump Exits International Solar Alliance
Energy Security, Investment and Decarbonisation to Take Centrestage at India Energy Week 2026
PM Modi Hails HPCL’s World-First LC-Max Residue Unit at Visakh Refinery
NHAI Urges DoT and TRAI to Fix Mobile Connectivity Gaps on National Highways
With Joshi at the Wheel, Gadkari Joins Hydrogen Car Drive to Signal India’s Clean Mobility Push
ONGC Partners MOL to Launch Ethane Shipping, Strengthening Energy Logistics and Maritime Presence
Maintenance incentive & community involvement will be checks and balances
Uttar Pradesh, one of the four states that enjoyed a slice of the World Bank aid totalling nearly $1.9 billion, has built 39,568 km of rural roads since the inception of PMGSY. Sanjeev Kumar, Commissioner, Rural Development, tells Shashidhar Nanjundaiah why there is a need for community monitoring systems.
Local self-government vital in maintenance
NABARD’s RIDF has disbursed Rs 1 lakh crore towards rural infrasÂtrucÂture including roads, but as CK Gopalakrishna, the bank’s Chief GeneÂral ManÂager & Chief Vigilance Officer, tells Janaki Krishnamoorthi, underperÂforÂmance of the assets is a worry.Government of India anÂnouÂnced in 1995-96 the scheme for setting up a fund to be operationalised by NABARD.
The Market-Accessors
If rural roads act as connectors between highways and tolled for heavy vehicles, they can be made more viable. In several states, rural roads under the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and the NABARD-financed schemes are new and inviting.
PPP in rural roads and infra is our aim in 12th Plan
As PURA gains momentum, rural roads are set to rope in private participation through 'bundling' the contracts-mainly, involving longer clusters of roads and of allied activities.
Rural roads: Country roads, take me home
A new opportunity knocks on the doors of private developers, especially those in the second-tier or contractors aspiring to be developers. Rural roads are all set to offer large opportunities this year as the government steps on the accelerator to see projects through,
Orissa's PMGSY fund spend
The Orissa government has utilised 95.29 per cent of the funds received under the Centrally sponsored Pradhan Mantri Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) till July-end.
Govt aid for Uttarakhand road development
The Ministry of Rural Development has released graÂnt in aid worth Rs 155.22 crore for construction of rural roads in Uttarakhand under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY).
Chhattisgarh launches rural road programme
The Mukhya Mantri Gram Sadak Vikas Yojana (MMGSVY) has announced its own rural road connectivity programme in the name of chief minister.
Expertspeak: Engineering measures for Forgiving Roads
It is only recently that concrete recommendations have been accepted by MORTH for enforcing safety measures.

