Reviewing the application of performance based maintenance contracting for roads in Northern province

Abstract

Road maintenance is essential in order to serve the road for design life, protect adjacent resources and user safety, and provide efficient and convenient travel along the route. Most of the road agencies face the problems of ensuring quality of finish product to serve the design periods and maintain the roads as per the standard. Performance Based Maintenance Contract (PBMC) format is formulated to address these problems. The objective of this study is to identify the benefits achieved by Road Development Authority (RDA) through implementing the PBMC method, challenges faced by the Authorities when implementing the PBMC method and mitigation measures to overcome the above challenges. The PBMC method was compared with conventional maintenance method and it was found that the roads which are maintained through the PBMC method are in better conditions compared to non PBMC roads, which are directly maintained by RDA through conventional maintenance method. Also, this study revealed that RDA’s conventional maintenance method cost is less compared to PBMC method due to restricted budgets and resources allocated to Maintenance Division. The study further found that PBMC method gives solution for labour shortage and inadequate fund allocation faced by RDA maintenance Division. Also found that PBMC method react quickly to attend the maintenance work due to higher flexibility in the private sector. In addition to benefits achieved by the RDA, this study identified challenges faced by RDA when implementing the PBMC method. Irresponsible behaviour of the public, the Contractor’s reluctance to attend the damages cause by third parties, the Contractors not treat PBM as a part of the main Contract, the Contractors attend the maintenance work just before the RDA inspection, Lack of knowledge and experience about PBMC method among RDA staff, making payment to the Contractors after loan agreement get expired and deficiencies in the Contract Documents were identified as challenges face by Authority when implementing the PBMC methods.