Lok Sabha Question No. 3830 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-08-12
Subject: Connectivity in Tribal Habitations of Waynad
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3830 ANSWERED ON 12/08/2025

## CONNECTIVITY IN TRIBAL HABITATIONS OF WAYNAD

3830. Smt. Priyanka Gandhi Vadra:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of initiatives taken to improve connectivity to tribal habitations in Wayanad Lok Sabha Constituency;
- (b) the  details  of  unconnected  tribal  habitations  in  Wayanad  Lok Sabha  constituency  proposed  to  be  covered  under  Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana-IV (PMGSY-IV).
- (c) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  relax  the  population criteria for aspirational districts to ensure 100% connectivity to all tribal habitations; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana  (PMGSY)  was launched in 2000, as a one time special dispensation, for providing connectivity  to  eligible  unconnected  habitations  in  the  country. Subsequently PMGSY II was launched for consolidation of rural roads network  and  PMGSY  III  for  providing  improved  connectivity  to schools, Gramin Agriculture Markets and hospitals.

A total  of  54  roads  of  length  203  Km  have  been  constructed under various verticals of PMGSY in Wayanad District, as on 8-8-2025. Parliament  Constituency  wise  details  are  not  maintained  by  the Ministry.

PMGSY-IV has been launched for construction of 62,500 km of all-weather  roads  (single  lane)  to  provide  connectivity  to  about 25,000  unconnected  habitations  of  population  size  500+  in  plains, 250+ in NE & Hill states/ UTs, special category areas (Tribal Schedule

V, Aspirational Districts/ Blocks, Desert areas) and 100+ in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected districts, as per Census 2011. The survey work to identify the eligible unconnected habitation as per population eligibility norms has been completed. The PMGSY Phase-IV will be implemented from 2024-2025 to 2028-2029. The Central Government is  working  in  close  coordination  with  the  States  to  facilitate submission of proposals, including from Kerala, under PMGSY IV.

Under the PM-JANMAN,  meeting of Pre -  Empowerment Committee  has  already  been  conducted  on  24th  April,  2025  for discussing  3  Road  Proposals  of  Length  3.48  Km  for  providing  all weather road connectivity to 3 unconnected habitations of which 2 are from Waynad District and 1 is from Palakkad District of Kerala.

The State has informed that a number of tribal habitations have been tentatively identified in Wayanad District as unconnected during the PMGSY-IV survey. As per the PMGSY IV guidelines, the proposals for new connectivity to unconnected habitations are to be approved by the district Panchayat, keeping in view interalia the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of Parliament and considering the programme guidelines. The proposals, as per the approved Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List are placed them before the State-level Standing Committee (SLSC) which recommends the habitations for consideration for sanction to the Central Government. As  on  8-8-2025  no  recommendations  of  the  State  Government  of Kerala have been received for according sanction under PMGSY IV.

(c) & (d): There  is  no  proposal  at  present  to  relax  the  population criterion at present for aspirational districts under PMGSY IV.

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