Lok Sabha Question No. 1467 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-29
Subject: Selection of Roads under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri K Sudhakaran

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1467 ANSWERED ON 29/07/2025

## SELECTION OF ROADS UNDER PMGSY

## 1467. Shri K Sudhakaran:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) the specific process adopted for consulting public representatives in Kerala during the selection of roads under various  phases  of  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana (PMGSY) and the manner in which their inputs were incorporated in the final proposals;
- (b) whether the Government is aware that the final proposals for PMGSY projects submitted by the State Government of Kerala are alleged to be politically selective and that public representatives belonging to parties other than the ruling party in  the  State  are  often  excluded  from  the  consultation  and planning process;
- (c) the  steps  taken  to  ensure  that  local  development  priorities identified  by  public  representatives  are  adequately  reflected, while  maintaining  technical  scrutiny  and  standards  enforced by State Technical Agencies (STAs) and State-Level Sanctioning Committees (SLSCs); and
- (d) whether the Government proposes to enhance the formal role of  public  representatives  under  PMGSY-IV,  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): Detailed guidelines have been issued for implementation of  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana  (PMGSY)  IV.  As  per  the guidelines,  the  District  Rural  Roads  Plan  (DRRP)  is  to  be  updated and the draft Comprehensive New Connectivity Priority List (CNCPL) of the unconnected habitations is to be generated keeping in view interalia the suggestions received from Hon'ble Members of

Parliament. As per para 5.5 of the programme guidelines of PMGSY IV, after the CNCPL is prepared and verified it shall be placed before the  District  Panchayat.  The  Hon'ble  Member  of  Parliament/  MLAs shall be given a copy of the CNCPL and their suggestions and the suggestions of lower level Panchayati Raj institutions shall be given fullest  consideration  by the District Panchayat while according its approval.

Further as per para 5.6 of programme guidelines of PMGSY I, after  approval  of  CNCPL  by  the  District  Panchayat,  the  proposals would be forwarded by the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) to the State  Rural  Roads  Development  Agency  (SRRDA).  The  PIU  will,  at that time prepare the details of proposals forwarded by the Hon'ble Members  of  Parliament  in  Proforma  MP-1  with  their  consent,  and action taken thereon in Proforma MP-II indicating the prioritization and other details, and send it along with the proposals. In all cases where the proposal of a Hon'ble Member of Parliament has not been included, cogent reasons shall be given based on the reasons given by the District Panchayat in MP-11 format itself.

Also, as per para 5.7 of programme guidelines the SRRDA shall vet  the  proposals  to  ensure  that  they  are  in  accordance  with  the Guidelines  and  shall  place  them  before  the  State-level  Standing

Committee (SLSC) along with the MP-1 and MP-II Statements.

As per 5.8 of programme guidelines, the SLSC would scrutinize the proposals to see that they are in accordance with the guidelines and that the proposals of the Hon'ble Members of Parliament have been given full consideration. In all cases where the proposals of Hon'ble  Members  of  Parliament  have  not  been  included,  cogent reasons shall be given to them and these shall be recorded in the proceedings of the SLSC. After scrutiny by the SLSC, the PIUs will prepare the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for each proposed road work.

No proposal under PMGSY IV has been submitted by the State Government  of  Kerala  to  the  Ministry  so  far.  The  proposals  are Central Government for according sanction. The timeline for implemention submitted in feasible batches by the States to the of PMGSY IV is till March, 2029.

(c) & (d): As per PMGSY-IV guidelines while commencing with the preparation  of  the  DPR,  the  PIU  will  hold  a  consultation  with the local community through the mechanism of the Gram Panchayat in order to determine the most suitable alignment, sort out issues of land  availability  (including  forest  land)  especially  due  to  road

widening / minor change in alignment etc., proposed tree plantation, moderate  any  adverse  social and  environmental  impact  and  elicit necessary  community  participation  in  the  programme.  For  this purpose, the PIU will organise a formal 'Transect Walk'.

Moreover, the construction of road works under PMGSY are 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 Road Congress (IRC) (IRC: SP:20),IRC:SP:72  and  also,  where  required,  the  Hill  Road  Manual (IRC: SP:48) and other IRC Codes/ Guidelines.

The role of Hon'ble Members of Parliament/ public representatives,  State  Technical  Agencies  (STAs)  and  State-Level Standing  Committees  (SLSCs)  are  already  defined  in  PMGSY-IV guidelines  issued  during  December,  2024.  Advisories  have  been issued to the States/ UTs to ensure that the guidelines are followed in  letter  and  spirit  while  submitting  PMGSY  IV  proposals  to  the Central Government for sanction.

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