Lok Sabha Question No. 1244 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-30
Subject: Unconnected Habitations under PMGSY in Tamil Nadu
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Dr. Kalanidhi Veeraswamy

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1244 ANSWERED ON 30/07/2024

## UNCONNECTED HABITATIONS UNDER PMGSY IN TAMIL NADU

1244 Dr. KalanidhiVeeraswamy:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) the salient features of the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY);
- (b) the  details  of  the  funds  sanctioned,  allocated  and  utilized under this yojana within TamilNadu so far;
- (c) the  details  of  the  number  of  unconnected  habitations  which have  been  identified  under  thisyojana  within  Tamil  Nadu  so far;
- (d) the details of the eligible unconnected habitations which have been connected under thisyojana within Tamil Nadu so far;
- (e) the  details  of  the  road  lengths  which  have  been  constructed under this yojana in TamilNadu so far; and
- (f) the  steps  being  taken  by  the  Government  with  regard  to bringing in transparency andcitizen engagement in registering of  complaints  regarding  quality  of  construction  and  pace ofconstruction?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI KAMLESH PASWAN)

- (a)       Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY) was launched as a one-time special intervention to provide rural connectivity, by way of a single all-weather road, to the eligible unconnected habitations of designated population size (500+ in plain areas and 250+ in NorthEastern States, Himalayan States and Himalayan Union Territories as  per  2001  census)  in  the  core  network  for  uplifting  the  socioeconomic condition of the rural population. Relaxation was provided to the Tribal (Schedule V) areas and Selected Tribal and Backward

Districts  (as  identified  by  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  and Planning Commission) and unconnected habitations in these areas with a population of 250 persons and above, in the Core Network as per Census 2001, for eligibility under the scheme. In the critical Left Wing Extremism affected blocks (as identified by Ministry of Home Affairs), additional relaxation has been given to connect habitations with population 100 persons and above as per 2001 census.

The mandate of PMGSY has been subsequently widened to include new interventions. PMGSY-II was launched in the year 2013, with a target to upgrade 50,000 Kms of the existing rural road network to transportation improve  its overall efficiency as a provider of services for people, goods and services.

Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism Affected Areas (RCPLWEA) was launched in the year 2016 for construction/upgradation of strategically important roads chosen in the 44 worst affected LWE districts and adjoining districts in the 9 States of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Telangana and Uttar Pradesh.

PMGSY-III  was  launched  in  the  year  2019  for  consolidation  of 1,25,000  Km  Through  Routes  and  Major  Rural  Links  connecting (GrAMs), habitations,  interalia, to Gramin Agricultural Markets Higher Secondary Schools and Hospitals.

The main features of PMGSY are decentralized and evidence based planning, standards and specifications as per Indian Road Congress (IRC) and Rural Roads Manual, dedicated implementation mechanism at Central, State and district level, scrutiny of Detailed Project  Reports  (DPRs)  at  multiple  levels,  strong  IT  backbone  for monitoring and implementation of the programme, three-tier quality management system, unbroken flow of funds, inbuilt mechanism for consultation with public representatives in planning, selection and monitoring of works, etc.

- (b)        A total of Rs.6,493.71Crore has been sanctioned/released to the State of Tamil Nadu as on date since inception. The State has reported an expenditure of Rs.8,606.40crore (including State Share)

since inception (upto 24 th  July, 2024). During current financial year 2024-25, the state has been released Rs.195.75 crore under PMGSY and the expenditure incurred by the State is Rs.169.44 crore.

- (c)  to  (d)   Since  inception  under  PMGSY  (upto  24 th   July,  2024),  a total  of  1985  habitations  were  found  eligible  for  connecting  under PMGSY and all 1985 habitations have been connected with roads.
- (e)        A total of 26,578 Km road length has been sanctioned under various  ongoing  interventions/verticals  of  PMGSY  to  the  State  of Tamil Nadu, out of which 23,449 Km road length has already been completed  and  2,950  Km  road  length  are  at  various  stages  of execution.  The  intervention/vertical  wise  physical  achievements under PMGSY since inception till 24.07.2024 are given below:

(Road length in Km)

| Name of               | Sanctioned   | Completed   | Balance*   |
|-----------------------|--------------|-------------|------------|
| intervention/vertical |              |             |            |
| PMGSY-I               | 16320        | 16168       | 0          |
| PMGSY-II              | 2940         | 2937        | 0          |
| PMGSY III             | 7318         | 4344        | 2,950      |
| Total:                | 26,578       | 23,449      | 2,950      |

* Balance road length is less than the difference of sanctioned and completed  length  due  to  the  reasons  that  some  projects  were completed with less than the sanctioned length due to reduction in road  length,  change  in  alignment,  construction  of  part  length  by other agencies, etc.
- (f)  PMGSY envisages a three tier Quality Assurance Mechanism viz. Programme  Implementing  Units (PIUs), State Quality Monitors (SQMs)  and  National  Quality  Monitors  (NQMs)  to  ensure  quality  of road works during construction. The abstract of inspection reports of  the  NQMs  and  SQMs  are  uploaded  on  PMGSY  programme management & monitoring website i.e. OMMAS, to facilitate public viewing of quality of road works being executed under the programme.

Ministry  has  also  launched  'MeriSadak'  Mobile  App  for  citizens  to enable them to submit their feedback/ grievances related to PMGSY roads. Further,  to  promote  transparency  and  effective  monitoring, the PMGSY guidelines have provivisions for joint inspection of works by Engineering Staff and the public representatives.

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