Lok Sabha Question No. 3779 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-12-21
Subject: Changes in Rules for Sanction under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Chandra Sekhar Sahu, Rahul Ramesh Shewale, Girish Bhalchandra Bapat, Pritam Gopinath Munde

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK  SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3779 ANSWERED ON 21/12/2021

## CHANGES IN RULES FOR SANCTION UNDER PMGSY

## 3779.   SHRI CHANDRA SEKHAR SAHU: SHRI RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE: SHRI GIRISH BHALCHANDRA BAPAT: DR. PRITAM GOPINATHRAO MUNDE:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has made any changes in the Rules for sanction, construction etc.  of  Rural  Roads  under  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana  (PMGSY)  in  the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  received  any  complaints  regarding  development  of  Rural Roads after such amendments in the Rules governing PMGSY;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the details of the corrective steps taken by the Government to make scheme as village friendly?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

(a)  &  (b)  Rural  roads  under  PMGSY  are  constructed  and  maintained  as  per  the  technical specifications  and  geometric design standards  given in  the Ministry of  Rural  Development Specifications  for  Rural  Roads,  Rural  Roads  Manual  of  the  Indian  Roads  Congress  (IRC) (IRC-SP:20) and also, where required, the Hill Road Manual (IRC:SP:48) and other relevant IRC Codes & Manuals. The works under the scheme are sanctioned by the Ministry based on the  Detailed  Project  Reports  (DPRs)  submitted  by  the  respective  State  Governments.  The sanctioned  works  are  executed  by  the  State  Governments.  The  following  is  the  details regarding eligibility of roads to be sanctioned under different verticals of PMGSY .

PMGSY-I which envisages all-weather road connectivity to eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size as per Census 2001, roads connecting the targeted habitations were  taken  up  for  sanction  under  the  new  connectivity  component.  Under  up-gradation component, intermediate link roads, which were not upto the standards of all-weather roads, were taken up for upgradation to the prescribed standards.

Under  PMGSY-II, which  envisages  upgradation  of  the  existing  rural  road  network  to improve its overall efficiency as a provider of transportation services for people, goods and services, the selection of roads in a particular district/block has been done by the States/UTs based  on  the  utility  value  of  the  eligible  roads  computed  on  the  basis  of  their  economic potential and their role in facilitating the growth of rural market centres and rural hubs.

All the works have been sanctioned under PMGSY-I and II.

Under  PMGSY-III ,  which  envisages  consolidation  of  existing  Through  routes  and  major rural links connecting  habitations,  inter-alia,  to  Gramin  Agricultural  Markets,  Higher

Secondary Schools and Hospitals, the selection of roads in a particular district/block is done by the States/UTs based on the utility value of the eligible roads computed on the basis of the population served by the road and market, educational, medical and transport infrastructure facilities connected by the concerned road.

Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Area(RCPLWEA) : roads under  RCPLWEA  are  sanctioned  on  the  recommendations  of  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs whose recommendations are based on consultation with the respective state governments.

- (c) & (d)         Yes Sir, the Ministry has received representations regarding inclusion of some important roads under PMGSY-III and providing connectivity to left out habitations.
- (e)            In  order  to  ensure  that  roads  sanctioned  under  PMGSY  are  village  friendly,  the scheme   has  inbuilt  mechanism  for  consultation  with  public  representatives  at  planning, selection  of  roads  and  monitoring  stages.   As  per  the  programme  guidelines  of  the  current phase, i.e., PMGSY-III, the proposals received from the Members of Parliament with regard to selection of roads are given full consideration and such proposals that cannot be included are communicated in writing to the Members of Parliament with reasons for non-inclusion of such proposal in each case. In order to ensure that the State Government give due attention towards  provisions  of  the  programme  guidelines  while  submitting  the  proposals  to  the Ministry of Rural Development for sanction, the Ministry has issued an advisory to the States on 2nd June, 2020. The State Governments have been advised, inter-alia, to communicate the final list of proposals in the order of priority to the Member of Parliament with the reasons for non-inclusion of certain roads in the proposals and obtain their consent on the proposals sent for approval. Apart from the Member of Parliament, other public representatives are also involved in the process of selection, planning and inspection of roads under PMGSY-III.

Besides,  following  provisions  have  been  made  in  the  programme  guidelines  to  make  the roads village friendly:-

-  Where the road passes through a habitation, the road in the built-up area and for 50 m on either side is appropriately designed preferably as a cement concrete road or with paved stones, besides being provided with side drains. Appropriate side drains, cross drainage  and  protection  works  are  provided  so  that  improper  drainage  does  not damage the road or the dwellings along side.
-  Locally  available  materials  are  also used  in construction  of  roads, subject to adherence to technical norms and relevant code of practices.
-  Road Safety Audit is mandatory requirement while preparing the DPR for PMGSYIII  and  it  is  to  be  audited  by  a  certified  road  safety  auditor.   An  independent  safety audit during design stage of the roads exceeding a length of 5 km as a part of the DPR is required.

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