1.7.1 Introduction

The Twelfth Finance Commission has recommended separate grants-in-aid to the States for maintenance of roads and bridges (Article 10.20 & 10.21 of Chapter 10, Twelfth Finance Commission Report . An amount of Rs.15,000 crore has been provided over the period 2006-10. No amount has been provided in the year 2005-06 so that the states get a year for making preparations to absorb these funds. This amount is in addition to the normal expenditure, which the states would be incurring on maintenance of roads and bridges.

Share of Tamil Nadu is Rs. 1214.40 Crores provided in equal instalments of Rs. 303.60 Crores over the last four years (i.e., 2006-07 to 2009-10) of the forecast period. This amount is used for maintenance of rural roads as well as roads maintained by the Highways Department.

1.7.2 Maintenance of Rural Roads using Twelfth Finance Commission Grants

For the year 2006-07, works have been taken up to maintain and improve the existing black topped Panchayat and Panchayat union roads connecting and passing through the AGAMT 2006-2007 Village Panchayats to a length of 1897.05 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 103.60 Crores sanctioned vide G.O. Ms. No. 222 (HV2) Highways Department dated 01.11.2006. All the works have been completed.

For the year 2007 – 2008, 1821.25 Km road works at an estimated cost of Rs. 103.60 Crores have been taken up.
So far 1554.96 Km road works have been completed with an expenditure of Rs. 66.71 Crores.
During 2008-09, a further allocation of Rs.103.60 crores will be given for the upgradation of roads using Twelfth Finance Commission Grants.

Table 1.7.1
Twelfth Finance Commission – Rural Road Works

Sl.No.	Year	Financial Allocation (Rs.in crores)	Physical Allocation ( No./ Km)
1	2006 - 07	103.60	1462/1897.95 Km
2	2007 - 08	103.60	1463/1827.51 Km

District-wise allocation of the roads in the year 2007-08 is given below:

Table 1.7.2
District-wise allocation of Twelfth Finance Commission – Rural Road Works-2007-08

Sl.No	District	No. of roads	Total Length (in Km)	Amount (Rs in Lakhs)
1	Kancheepuram	68	96.24	539.670
2	Coimbatore	25	49.90	334.870
3	Cuddalore	62	96.60	551.930
4	Krishnagiri	35	53.30	273.920
5	Dharmapuri	41	41.40	216.690
6	Dindigul	35	49.20	253.480
7	Kanniyakumari	26	19.11	81.770
8	Karur	18	24.55	130.830
9	Madurai	48	59.49	335.570
10	Nagapattinam	45	59.60	343.430
11	Namakkal	42	49.695	269.830
12	Perambalur	27	46.30	265.750
13	Erode	40	51.30	282.100
14	Pudukottai	44	68.88	420.380
15	Ramanathapuram	30	54.55	380.780
16	Salem	63	67.25	348.710
17	Sivagangai	51	64.24	363.850
18	Thanjavur	158	98.999	470.710
19	The Nilgiris	4	5.30	28.620
20	Theni	6	6.20	49.000
21	Tiruvallur	60	72.30	447.340
22	Tiruvarur	45	68.125	355.130
23	Trichirapalli	43	63.70	335.250
24	Tirunelveli	44	42.18	316.670
25	Tiruvannamalai	89	119.59	695.060
26	Thoothukudi	40	58.80	335.250
27	Vellore	141	140.93	614.890
28	Villupuram	75	132.40	950.620
29	Virudhunagar	58	67.38	367.900
	Total	1463	1827.51	10360.000

1.7.3 Salient features

Only roads, which are already BT, are taken up under Twelfth Finance Commission grants maintenance works. Potholes filling up and relaying of the BT layer is the type of work that is typically contemplated under this component. The District Collectors are the administrative sanctioning authority for the road works.

The general procedure as stipulated in the TamilNadu Transparency in Tender Act 1998 (Act No. 43 of 1998) and rules framed are adhered strictly for calling and accepting tenders.

A two-tier quality monitoring system is adopted for these roads. While the Project officer/Executive Engineer is the first tier, the second tier is an independent state level agency. Senior technical persons are engaged as State Quality Monitor (SQMs) to inspect road works in different stages.