The OMMAS portal at pmgsy.nic.in already shows project data — when should I also file an RTI?

The Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS) at pmgsy.nic.in is an excellent starting point and publishes contractor names, contract amounts, completion status, and even photographs for most PMGSY projects. You should check it first. However, RTI becomes necessary in several situations: (1) the OMMAS data shows a project as 'completed' but the road is visibly incomplete or damaged — RTI can obtain the quality inspection report prepared by the Quality Monitor or National Quality Monitor, which may not be publicly displayed; (2) you need a certified copy of the inspection report or contractor agreement for use as evidence in a complaint; (3) the OMMAS data for a specific habitation or package is missing, outdated, or inconsistent — RTI creates an official, legally accountable response; (4) you want to know whether a complaint you submitted was received and acted upon; or (5) you need the specific reason your habitation has been excluded from the PMGSY eligible list. RTI supplements OMMAS — it gives you documents, not just data.

The PMGSY road in our village was built two years ago but has already broken down badly. Is the contractor still liable?

Yes. Under PMGSY specifications, all completed roads are subject to a five-year maintenance and defect liability period during which the contractor is responsible for repairing any defects at their own cost. The State Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) is required to conduct periodic quality inspections through Quality Monitors (QMs) and National Quality Monitors (NQMs) during this period, and any defects identified must be remedied by the contractor. Through RTI, you can ask: (1) a copy of the most recent NQM/QM inspection report for the road in question — this will record any defects found and the action directed; (2) whether the contractor has been issued a defect rectification notice and, if so, the date and the contractor's response; (3) whether any liquidated damages or penalty have been levied on the contractor for non-maintenance; (4) the name and contact details of the Maintenance Engineer responsible for this stretch. A quality inspection report showing defects, combined with evidence that no repairs were made, forms the basis of a complaint to the NRIDA and the Ministry of Rural Development.

Our village has about 400 people but has not been given a PMGSY road. What are the eligibility rules and how does RTI help verify why we were excluded?

Under PMGSY, habitations are eligible for all-weather connectivity based on population thresholds: 500 or more population for plain areas, and 250 or more population for hilly, tribal, desert, and coastal areas (as per the PMGSY programme guidelines). The population is counted at the habitation level — not the village or Gram Panchayat level — using census data and field surveys. If your habitation has approximately 400 people and is in a plain area, it may fall below the 500-person threshold; however, the population figure used by the PIU (which may be from a census or survey) could differ from the actual current population. Through RTI with the State PIU or DRDA, ask for: (1) the population of [habitation name] as recorded in the PMGSY habitation database used for your district; (2) whether the habitation is on the eligible list — if not, the specific reason (below threshold, already connected, included in a different phase); (3) the survey report or source document used to arrive at the recorded population figure. If the official population is factually wrong, the RTI response provides the basis for a formal representation to the District Programme Coordinator to get the survey revised.

Should I file RTI with the State PIU or with NRIDA and the Ministry of Rural Development — and what is the difference?

PMGSY has two distinct implementing levels, and the right authority depends on what you want to know. The State Programme Implementation Unit (State PIU) or State Rural Roads Development Agency (SRRRDA) is responsible for actual road construction at the state level — sanctioning, contracting, quality inspection, and fund release to contractors. For questions about a specific road project (construction status, contractor, quality inspection report, habitation eligibility, defect liability, individual complaint action), file RTI with the State PIU or the District Programme Implementation Unit (DPIU) of your district. These are state public authorities, so the second appeal goes to your State Information Commission (State SIC). The National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA) under the Ministry of Rural Development is the Central-level implementation agency — responsible for overall programme oversight, National Quality Monitor (NQM) deputation, central fund release to states, and national programme data. File RTI with NRIDA (through rtionline.gov.in → Ministry of Rural Development → NRIDA) for policy information, national data, NQM inspection summaries at the national level, and fund releases from the Centre to the states. For NRIDA/Ministry RTIs, the second appeal goes to the Central Information Commission (CIC).

The State PIU did not respond to my RTI within 30 days. What should I do next?

If the State PIU (a state public authority) does not respond within 30 days of receiving your RTI application, your application is deemed refused under the RTI Act. File a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same State PIU or DPIU within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The First Appeal must be decided within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with reasons). If the First Appellate Authority also does not respond or the response is unsatisfactory, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) with your State Information Commission (SIC) within 90 days of the date of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the period for the FAA to decide. The State Information Commission can direct the PIO to provide information and impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on the errant PIO under Section 20 of the RTI Act, as well as recommend disciplinary action.

Home/Guides/How to File RTI for PMGSY Rural Roads — Construction Status, Quality Inspection and Contractor Details

Central Government

How to File RTI for PMGSY Rural Roads — Construction Status, Quality Inspection and Contractor Details

Step-by-step guide to file an RTI for Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) road construction status, National Quality Monitor inspection reports, contractor and contract amount, habitation eligibility, fund utilisation, and complaint action. File with State PIU/DRDA (second appeal: State SIC) for individual road projects; NRIDA/Ministry of Rural Development (second appeal: CIC) for national data. Includes a ready-to-use sample RTI draft.

Updated 24 May 2026

Quick Facts

MinistryMinistry of Rural Development

Address RTI ToCPIO, National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), 5th Floor, 15, Sardar Patel Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi – 110001 / PIO, State Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) (relevant state)

Application Fee₹10 under RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. Free for BPL cardholders.

Response Time30 days from receipt (Section 7(1), RTI Act 2005). 48 hours if the matter involves life or liberty.

File Online Athttps://rtionline.gov.in

All information on this page is based on the Right to Information Act, 2005 (Act No. 22 of 2005) and the RTI (Regulation of Fee and Cost) Rules, 2005. First Appeal: Section 19(1). Second Appeal to CIC/SIC: Section 19(3).

Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) is India's flagship rural roads programme, launched in 2000, with the mandate to provide all-weather road connectivity to unconnected rural habitations meeting the prescribed population threshold. The programme is funded by the Central Government and overseen nationally by the National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Rural Development. At the state level, construction is executed through State Programme Implementation Units (PIUs) or State Rural Roads Development Agencies (SRRDAs), with further delegation to District Programme Implementation Units (DPIUs).

Both NRIDA and State PIUs are public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, obligated to provide information about PMGSY road projects — construction status, contractor details, quality inspection reports, habitation eligibility, fund utilisation, and complaint action — in response to an RTI application filed under Section 6 of the Act.

Check OMMAS Before Filing RTI

Before drafting your RTI, visit pmgsy.nic.in — PMGSY's Online Management, Monitoring and Accounting System (OMMAS). This portal is publicly accessible and provides real-time project data for most PMGSY roads across India, including:

Habitation connectivity status and year of sanction
Contractor name and contract amount for each package
Construction progress and completion percentage
Geo-tagged photographs of completed roads

Checking OMMAS first allows you to confirm what is already on record and makes your RTI more targeted. RTI becomes necessary when you need quality inspection reports (which are not displayed online), certified copies of documents for evidence, official responses to a complaint you submitted, or when the portal data is missing, outdated, or inconsistent with ground reality.

PMGSY Implementation Structure

Understanding which level of government handles what helps you direct your RTI to the right authority.

Level	Agency	Role	File RTI Here For	Second Appeal
Central	NRIDA, Ministry of Rural Development	Programme oversight, NQM deputation, Central fund release to states, national data	National policy, fund releases to states, national NQM reports, central programme data	Central Information Commission (CIC)
State	State PIU / SRRRDA	State-level contracting, quality monitoring, fund release to contractors, maintenance oversight	Specific road status, contractor details, QM/NQM inspection reports, habitation eligibility, fund utilisation, complaint action	State Information Commission (SIC)
District	DPIU / District Programme Implementation Unit	District-level execution, project supervision, works inspection	District-level project and inspection details	State Information Commission (SIC)

For most queries about a specific road or habitation, file with the State PIU or DPIU — second appeal is the State SIC. For national data and policy, file with NRIDA — second appeal is the CIC.

Common RTI Use Cases

Issue	What to Ask	What to Expect
Road not built for our habitation	Whether habitation is on the eligible list, recorded population, reason for exclusion	Official population figure used by PIU and whether habitation is sanctioned or below threshold
Road shown complete on OMMAS but not built	Current completion status, contractor, QM/NQM inspection report	Inspection report recording actual condition; contractor name to support complaint
Road built but broke down within 5 years	NQM/QM inspection report, defect notices issued to contractor, liquidated damages levied	Evidence of defect liability enforcement (or lack thereof)
Contractor details for a road	Contractor name, address, contract amount, stipulated completion date	Certified contractor and contract information
Complaint action not taken	Whether complaint was received, date, action taken	Official record of complaint receipt and status
Fund utilisation	Amount released to State PIU, amount further released for specific package	Fund flow from Centre to state and down to contractor

Where to File

State PIU / DPIU (for specific road projects): File through your state's RTI portal. Most states have a dedicated portal; check the state government's website. Alternatively, submit a written application with ₹10 fee to the PIO at the State PIU or the District Programme Implementation Unit of your district.

NRIDA / Ministry of Rural Development (for central-level information): File on rtionline.gov.in:

Go to rtionline.gov.in and click Submit Request
Select Ministry of Rural Development
Under the Ministry, select NRIDA or the Ministry's own CPIO as appropriate
Draft your questions — include the habitation name, district, state, and PMGSY package number if known from OMMAS
Pay ₹10 online (free for BPL cardholders — attach BPL card copy)
Submit and save your registration number

What Specific Information Can You Ask For?

Habitation eligibility: Whether habitation name, Block, District is included in the PMGSY eligible habitation list — the population recorded, the year of sanction (or reason for non-inclusion), and the current construction status
Project sanction: The PMGSY package number, sanctioned length (in kilometres), total sanctioned cost, and the year of sanction for the road serving habitation name
Contractor details: The name and registered address of the contractor awarded the construction contract for the above package, the contract amount, the stipulated date of completion, and the actual date of completion (or current completion percentage)
Quality inspection report: A copy of the most recent inspection report prepared by the Quality Monitor (QM) or National Quality Monitor (NQM) for the above package — including the inspection date, defects or observations recorded, and the action directed
Defect liability: Whether any defects were found during the five-year post-completion maintenance period for the above road — if yes, the defect rectification notice(s) issued to the contractor and the contractor's compliance; whether any liquidated damages or penalty have been levied
Fund utilisation: The total contract amount, the amount of funds released to the contractor as on the date of this RTI, and the amount withheld (if any) with reasons
Complaint action: Whether any complaint regarding poor quality of construction or non-connectivity of the above road was received — if yes, the date of receipt, the nature of the complaint, and the action taken

Appeals

First Appeal (Section 19(1)): If the PIO does not respond within 30 days or the response is unsatisfactory, file a First Appeal with the First Appellate Authority (FAA) at the same office within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. The FAA must decide within 30 days (extendable to 45 days with reasons).

Second Appeal (Section 19(3)):

For State PIU / DPIU (state public authorities): file with your State Information Commission (SIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of its decision period. The SIC can direct the PIO to provide information and impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) under Section 20 of the RTI Act.
For NRIDA / Ministry of Rural Development (Central public authorities): file with the Central Information Commission (CIC) within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of its decision period.

Sample RTI Application Draft

To,
The Public Information Officer (PIO),
[State Programme Implementation Unit (PIU) / District Rural Development Agency (DRDA)]
[District / State]

[Alternative for Central-level queries:
The Central Public Information Officer (CPIO),
National Rural Infrastructure Development Agency (NRIDA),
5th Floor, 15, Sardar Patel Bhawan, Parliament Street, New Delhi – 110001]

Subject: Application under the Right to Information Act, 2005 — PMGSY Road Construction Status, Quality Inspection Report, and Contractor Details

Sir/Madam,

I, [Your Full Name], residing at [Village, Gram Panchayat, Block, District, State], submit this application under Section 6 of the Right to Information Act, 2005, to seek the following information in respect of a PMGSY road project in my area:

Project details (as known):
  Habitation name: [Name of habitation]
  Gram Panchayat: [Name]
  Block: [Name]
  District: [Name]
  State: [Name]
  PMGSY Road / Package No. (if known from pmgsy.nic.in): [Package No.]
  Approximate year of sanction (if known): [Year]

Information sought:

1. Whether the habitation [habitation name], [Gram Panchayat], [Block], [District] is included in the PMGSY eligible habitation list — if yes, the priority number assigned, the year of sanction, and the current construction status (sanctioned / under construction / completed). If not included, the specific reason for exclusion and whether its population as per the last survey meets the PMGSY threshold.

2. The name and address of the contractor awarded the construction contract for the above PMGSY road / package, the contract amount, the stipulated date of completion, and the actual date of completion (or current completion percentage if still under construction).

3. A copy of the most recent quality inspection report prepared by the Quality Monitor (QM) or National Quality Monitor (NQM) for the above PMGSY road / package — including the inspection date, defects or observations recorded, and the action taken or directed.

4. Whether any complaint or representation regarding poor quality of construction, non-completion, or non-connectivity of the above PMGSY road was received by this office — if yes, the date of receipt, the nature of the complaint, and the action taken including whether any liability was enforced on the contractor.

5. The total contract amount, the amount of funds released to the contractor as on the date of this RTI, the amount withheld (if any), and the reason for any withholding.

6. Whether any extension of time was granted to the contractor for the above road / package — if yes, the number of extensions, the reason(s) recorded, and whether any liquidated damages were levied.

I am enclosing the application fee of Rs. 10 [via online payment; Reference No.: [Payment Ref] / via Indian Postal Order No.: [IPO No.] / by demand draft].

I request the above information within 30 days as required under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act, 2005.

Yours sincerely,

[Your Full Name]
[Your Complete Address]
Phone: [Your 10-digit Mobile Number]
Email: [[email protected]]
Date: [DD/MM/YYYY]

Replace all text in [square brackets] with your actual details before filing. Do not include the brackets in your submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

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