India’s rural road network built under the flagship Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna is in urgent need of repairs but states are not spending enough for the upkeep of these roads, the construction of which started in December 2000. This has been a cause for concern for the Ministry of Rural Development, the nodal ministry for implementation of the scheme, and the Fifteenth Finance Commission chaired by NK Singh.
Taking cognisance of the poor funding for maintenance and upkeep of the PMGSY roads, the Commission has already committed that it would recommend transfer of grants to states when it finalises its report later this year.
