Quality Assurance Handbook for Rural Roads Volume-I - pmgsy

1. INTRODUCTION
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Quality Assurance Handbook for Rural Roads
Rural Road Projects are often very small in size and widely scattered in remote areas with very
limited basic facilities like ready availability of electric supply, drinking water and road access to
heavy plant/ equipment etc. The material specifications generally incorporate the use of a wide
variety of low cost locally available materials. The speed of construction is relatively slow and the
available resources as well as skills with small contractors are at a relatively lower level.
It is, therefore, necessary that while developing a suitable Quality Management System for both
construction and maintenance work, such constraints are kept in view. The types of quality control
tests and their frequency have also to be judiciously selected so as to be achievable under the
prevailing conditions.
Keeping the above factors in mind, a three tier quality management system together with a simplified
practical approach to Quality Assurance in Rural Road works is prescribed as detailed in subsequent
paragraphs.
2. THREE TIER SET UP FOR QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
The three tier quality management mechanism comprises:
(a) First Tier: In-house quality control by the executing agency
(b) Second Tier: Independent quality control set up of the State Rural Roads Development Agency.
(c) Third Tier: National Quality Monitoring system as operationalised by NRRDA for PMGSY.
The second and third tier will not be connected with the Project Implementation Unit (PIU).
3. FIRST TIER
CHAPTER 2
QUALITY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
3.1 The PIU is envisaged as a first tier of quality management with the primary function of
construction supervision and quality control. The quality management functions of the PIU shall
include the following:
(i) Preparation of realistic detailed project report (DPR) with adequate attention to investigations
and pre-construction activities which are essential for proper design and estimation of the
project following MoRD Specifications for Rural Roads, Rural Roads Manual and other relevant
IRC specifications.
(ii) Preparation of bid documents and effective selection process for procurement of works, based
on proven capacity and ability of the contractors.