The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Classification of Public Roads) Rules, 1999

What the rules govern

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Classification of Public Roads) Rules, 1999 determine whether certain public roads are Village Panchayat roads or Panchayat Union roads. They also set out how those roads may be classified, reclassified or upgraded.

The rules apply to public roads vested with Village Panchayats and Panchayat Unions. They do not describe the ownership or title status of adjoining private land.

Road categories

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Classification of Public Roads) Rules, 1999 provide that:

• Every public road in a Village Panchayat area is a Village Panchayat road unless it is classified as a National Highways road, State Highways road, Major District road or Panchayat Union road.
• Every public road in a Panchayat Union area is a Panchayat Union road unless it is classified as a National Highways road, State Highways road, Major District road or Village Panchayat road.
• The Inspector must classify roads vested with the relevant local bodies by notification in the District Gazette.
• Before classification, the Inspector must obtain a resolution from the relevant Village Panchayat or Panchayat Union Council.
• The Inspector must also obtain the technical opinion of the Executive Engineer (Rural Development) and the views of the district Divisional Engineer (Highways).

Reclassification and upgradation

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Classification of Public Roads) Rules, 1999 allow the Inspector to reclassify a Village Panchayat road as a Panchayat Union road, or the reverse, by District Gazette notification. Reclassification may begin on the Inspector's own initiative or from a resolution of the relevant local body.

Key requirements include:

• The Village Panchayat and Panchayat Union Council concerned must be consulted before notification.
• Traffic intensity and connectivity between towns and villages must be considered.
• Reclassification requires consultation with the District Panchayat concerned.
• The Inspector may propose that a local body road be upgraded as a State Highways road, National Highways road or Major District road, based on resolutions of the Village Panchayat and Panchayat Union Council.
• The State Government may order an upgradation after receiving a proposal or on its own initiative.
• The Government may revise a proposed classification or reclassification on its own initiative or following an application.

Road records

The Tamil Nadu Panchayats (Classification of Public Roads) Rules, 1999 require every Village Panchayat and Panchayat Union to maintain a road register in the prescribed form. For a buyer, owner or professional investigating the administrative category of a nearby public road, the relevant local body's road register and District Gazette notification are the records identified by these rules.