Bhubaneswar: In a significant push to modernize the state’s physical infrastructure, the Government of Odisha has introduced a robust set of guidelines aimed at ensuring safe, sustainable, and efficient transportation for both goods and people. Under the strategic vision of Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi and the focused leadership of the Minister for Works, Law and Excise, Shri Prithiviraj Harichandan, the Department of Works is prioritizing transparency and clarity through a foolproof maintenance mechanism designed to achieve a goal of zero complaints from the public.
Central to these reforms is Shri Sanjay Kumar Singh, Principal Secretary of Works, who is overseeing the implementation of a structural framework where every section of the state’s road network—including State Highways, Major District Roads, and Other District Roads—is assigned an accountable maintenance agency. The Department of Works has mandated that no stretch of road should be left unattended; all roads must be covered under a development plan, a Defect Liability Period (DLP), or a specific maintenance contract. This ensures that just as one period of obligation ends, a new maintenance contract is ready to take over, maintaining a continuous cycle of care.
To bring technical precision to this goal, the Department of Works has introduced two primary contractual models based on the condition and development timeline of the road. For stretches where major construction or upgrading is planned to begin within approximately one year, Short-Term Maintenance Contracts (STMC) are being deployed. These contracts typically span one year and serve to bridge the gap until major work commences. For structurally sound roads where no expansion is planned for the next five to seven years, the state is adopting Performance-Based Maintenance Contracts (PBMC).
The PBMC model is highly comprehensive, divided into three critical phases: initial rectification, periodic maintenance, and routine maintenance. Initial rectification involves making the road traffic-worthy within the first six months by repairing potholes, cracks, and cleaning culverts or side drains. Periodic maintenance includes systematic works like profile correction, bituminous overlays, and road markings. Routine maintenance is established on a fixed lump-sum basis to ensure the road stays in its intended service level throughout the contract.
Transparency is further enhanced through the integration of modern monitoring tools and strict planning cycles. The department is utilizing a dedicated software and mobile app to capture defects, monitor repair timelines, and automatically generate penalties for non-compliance by contractors.
Field officers are required to conduct frequent quality control checks and use time-stamped, geo-tagged images as evidence for payment. Additionally, the State Government has streamlined the administrative process by requiring all maintenance requirements to be prepared between October and December of the preceding year.
This allows for the entire sanctioning and bidding process to be completed before the new financial year begins, ensuring that urgent repairs can be finished before the onset of the monsoon to minimize road damage. By aligning these efforts with international standards and national codes, the state is creating a culture of excellence and accountability in public works.
This proactive planning, combined with a focus on specialized engineering cadres, aligns with the Viksit Odisha 2036 vision, creating a culture of excellence and setting a new national benchmark for Public Works Administration.