The basic components for preparing any works estimate and Detailed Project Reports by the infrastructure departments are the Standard specifications, Standard Data, Schedule of Rates for construction materials, labour and hire charges of machinery utilized on items of works. To establish required strength and other utility factors required for specific type of constructions, design specifications for various construction works, materials and other ingredients are standardized by Bureau of Indian Standards, MORTH, and MORD etc. The Standard Data gives the details of various inputs in terms of quantities required for Unit of any work item and hence the correctness of the Standard Data and Standard Schedule of Rates will have direct bearing on the preparation of engineering project estimates and execution.

The existing A.P. Standard Data for various construction items were based on observations made several decades back mostly by utilizing manpower for execution of all items of works and deployment of machinery was at the barest minimum. The advent of construction machinery and its usage in construction industry has changed the structure and methodology of data formulation & rate structure and hence, the present estimation of work item rates are not reflecting ground reality.

The present reality is to deploy the specific need based machinery and equipment. This is predominant in executing the works by all construction Agencies. Consequently the work of same magnitude done in the past by deploying a large number of labour force for several days can now be done in few hours by using relevant machinery resulting in large savings in rate structure.

Realizing the urgency and importance to have realistic DATA, Government of Andhra Pradesh in General Administration Department vide GOMS.7326, GA (GPM &AR) Dept, Dated 26-10-2005 constituted a High Level Committee, under the chairmanship of Special Chief Secretary, General Administration (GPM&AR) to advise on "Up dating and Revising the A.P. Standard Data" .A project for revision of standard data and Schedule of rates was conceived and entrusted to the Centre for Good Governance.

The CGG made in depth study and analysed the Data being followed by different Departments dealing with Public Works in Andhra Pradesh, KARNATAKA, MORTH, MORD, and CPWD under Government of India, to revise and update the A.P. Standardize data for various items of works and to make the same applicable uniformly to all Engineering Departments of Andhra Pradesh, dealing with public works. The team of senior engineers interacted with the S.R Committee of Karnataka on implementation and improvements needed.

The sequence adopted is,
(a) The first step is the formulation of standard data is for each work component,
(b) the second step is to arrive the details of inputs and work out the Schedule of rates by incorporating the use rates of machinery , materials, labour charges and other supplementary parameters and provisions in the form of percentages on the basic input rates
(c) The third step is to generate Schedule of unit rate as using the software tool

Keeping in view the strategy, factors and classification of various types of works, a number of meetings and interactions were held with the heads of Departments of I&CAD, Roads & Buildings, Public Health and Panchayat Raj Departments, etc. Their specific views and suggestions were further discussed with the High level committee at various stages and their recommendations are incorporated, besides collecting data from various sources. The Standard data has been cleared by the Board of Chief Engineers and finally by the High level committee. The Draft "Revised and updated Standard Data" is presented in four parts considering specific nature of work, location of work and magnitude of work as indicated below:
1. PART I : Irrigation and Command Area Development
2. PART II : Roads & Bridges
3. PART III : Buildings
4. PART IV : Drinking Water supply Schemes

Government of Andhra Pradesh has accepted the recommendations of the High level committee and issued comprehensive orders for the adoption in all the engineering/public works departments and organizations. (Vide, G.O Ms. No. 49, Irrigation &CAD dated; 2-3-2009 with immediate effect.

In addition a software module is developed to incorporate any changes, modifications to the standard data and to generate Schedule of Rates in respect of Irrigation works by, just feeding the basic input rates of materials, labour and capital cost of machinery. Further, a software package is also developed to generate estimates of all irrigation works linking the unit rates.

The revised Standards and Schedule of rates are being successfully adopted from 01-07-09 onwards.

This program is one of the major e-governance and reform plans to reengineer the management and delivery mechanism of the infrastructure development projects with total transparency, developed by the Centre for Good Governance.