Lok Sabha Question No. 164 (STARRED), answered on 2025-03-11
Subject: Tourism and Tribal Development under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Shri Bhausaheb Rajaram Wakchaure

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 164

## ANSWERED ON 11/03/2025

## TOURISM AND TRIBAL DEVELOPMENT UNDER PMGSY

## *164. SHRI BHAUSAHEB RAJARAM WAKCHAURE:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Government has taken any steps for tourism and tribal  development  in  AkoleTaluka  of  Shirdi  Parliamentary Constituency  of  Maharashtra  by  providing  better  connectivity to  the  villages  connecting  the  local  roads  with  the  main highway  of  the  said  region  which  is  a  tribal  dominated  area having adequate tourism potential;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken to include the rural roads of Akole and other talukas of Shirdi Parliamentary  Constituency  under  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY);
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  received  representations  from the public representatives in this regard; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof along with the progress made so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT (SHRI SHIVRAJ SINGH CHOUHAN)

- (a)  to  (d):         A  statement  is  laid  on  the  Table  of  the  House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (A) TO (D) OF LOK SABHA  STARRED  QUESTION  NO.  164  DUE  FOR  ANSWER  ON

11.03.2025.

(a)&(b): "Rural  roads"  is  a  State  subject.  The  Government  of India,  as  a  part  of  the  poverty  reduction  strategy,  launched  the Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana  (PMGSY-I)  on  25 th   December, 2000  to  assist  the  States  in  providing  connectivity  to  eligible unconnected habitations through all-weather roads. Other verticals viz.  PMGSY  II  and  PMGSY  III  were  also  started  for  upgradation  of rural  roads  for  better  connectivity  to  growth  centres  and  for improved  connectivity  to  schools,  hospitals,  Gramin  Agricultural Markets, respectively. Several PMGSY roads have been constructed in  tribal  dominated  areas  in  the  country  as  per  the  scheme objectives.

As  informed  by  the  State  Government,  there  are  many  tourist and  holy  places  in  AkoleTaluka  which  are  connected  by  State Highways (SH), Major District Roads (MDR) and Other District Roads (ODR). A tourist place named Vishramgad Fort has road connectivity through a PMGSY road. In AkoleTaluka, 36 PMGSY roads of 175.20 km length were sanctioned and out of which 32 roads of 138.80 km length have already been completed.

(c) & (d): PMGSY guidelines have an inbuilt mechanism of consultation with public representatives. Proposals for road connectivity  under  PMGSY  are  approved  at  Block  and  District Panchayats.  After  approval  at  State  level,  the  Ministry  of  Rural Development  evaluates  these  proposals  in  accordance  with  the guidelines of the scheme for according clearance.

Representations  from  public  representatives  for  construction of rural roads are sent to the State Governments for consideration under PMGSY or a State Government scheme, as feasible.

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