A sustainability assessment tool for low-volume rural road maintenance in India

Low-volume rural roads (LVRRs) form the backbone of India’s rural mobility network, yet the sustainability of their maintenance remains largely unaddressed in existing rating systems. This study develops SPATRR – a Sustainable Pavement Assessment Tool for Rural Roads – to evaluate the sustainability performance of maintenance activities using a structured, certifiable, and locally contextual approach. A comprehensive indicator set was constructed through literature review, field observations, and stakeholder consultations. Importance rankings were derived using the relative importance index and reliability validated using Cronbach’s alpha (α > 0.90). Category weights were generated through the analytic hierarchy process (AHP) with expert input from agencies, contractors, practitioners, and road users. The final SPATRR tool includes eight sustainability categories and 41 indicators, supported by an AHP-weighted scoring model and a four-tier sustainability certification scheme. A real-world case study demonstrates the applicability of the tool and highlights improvement pathways. SPATRR offers a simple, transparent, and context-specific assessment mechanism that can support decision makers in prioritising sustainable maintenance of LVRRs.