Lok Sabha Question No. 3090 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Challenges under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Margani Bharat

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

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3090 ANSWERED ON 08/08/2023

## CHALLENGES UNDER PMGSY

## 3090. SHRI MARGANI BHARAT:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  Sadak  Yojana  (PMGSY)  has been suffering from challenges such as lack of dedicated funds, limited involvement of the Panchayati Raj Institutions, inadequate  execution  and  contracting  capacity,  less  working season and difficult terrain particularly in Hill States, scarcity of the construction materials and security concerns particularly in Left Wing Extremism (LWE) areas;
- (b) if so, the details of measures taken/being taken by the Government  to  resolve  the  same  alongwith  the  effects  of  the same; and
- (c) the  other  proposed  measures  to  be  taken  to  resolve  such challenges?

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## ANSWER (SADHVI NIRANJAN JYOTI)

- (a)  The  vertical-wise  details  of  achievement  under  Pradhan  Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) are given below:

| Vertical   | Sanctioned   | Sanctioned          | Sanctioned     | Completed    | Completed           | Completed      | Balance      | Balance             | Balance        |
|------------|--------------|---------------------|----------------|--------------|---------------------|----------------|--------------|---------------------|----------------|
|            | No. of Roads | Road Length (in km) | No. of bridges | No. of Roads | Road Length (in km) | No. of bridges | No. of Roads | Road Length (in km) | No. of bridges |
| PMGSY-I    | 1,64,686     | 6,45,189            | 7,484          | 1,62,575     | 6,22,391            | 6,817          | 2,111        | 7,377               | 667            |
| PMGSY-II   | 6,692        | 49,857              | 763            | 6,446        | 48,612              | 712            | 246          | 728                 | 51             |
| RCPLWEA    | 1,342        | 12,100              | 705            | 684          | 8,101               | 303            | 658          | 3,936               | 402            |
| PMGSY-III  | 13,473       | 1,03,979            | 2,142          | 6,705        | 63,280              | 409            | 6,768        | 40,052              | 1733           |

As per the programme guidelines of  PMGSY, the execution of works under the scheme is the responsibility of the State Governments. The release of funds to the State for implementation of PMGSY is done on the basis of the proposal received from the State and depends, interalia,  on  works  in  hand,  execution  capacity  of  the  State  and  unspent funds available with the State. There is no constraint in terms of lack of dedicated funds for the implementation of the programme.

The PMGSY draws upon the model of decentralized network planning for  rural  roads  with  full  involvement  of  the  three-tier  Panchayati  Raj Institutions as well as Hon'ble Members of Legislative Assemblies and Parliament.

While implementing the scheme, challenges like issues of land acquisition,  forest  clearance,  court  cases,  execution  &  contracting capacity of States, lack of response to tenders, law and order issues, timely availability  of  the  construction  materials  such as gravel, moorum,  sand  stone  aggregate  bitumen,  machinery,  personnel  to handle machinery etc. came in the way which impacted the progress of  the  scheme  in  few  locations.  For  North-Eastern  and  Hill  States, some additional issues like adverse climatic conditions, tough terrain, short working season etc. were also reported.

- (b)  &  (c)    The  Ministry  of  Rural  Development  has  taken  a  number  of initiatives  to  meet  the  above  challenges  faced  by  the  States  for completion of the sanctioned works within the time-line prescribed in the programme guidelines, some of which are given below:-
- o The State Governments are also regularly advised to convene meetings  with  the  concerned  authorities  to  expedite  matters relating to land issues, forest clearances, etc so that works can be completed without delay.
- o The  Operational  Manual  of  the  PMGSY  has  been  amended  to ensure that all works sanctioned under scheme commence on ground within72 days from the date of sanction.
- o States have been requested to augment executing capacity and contracting  capacity  and  their  compliance  in  this  regards  is regularly reviewed.
- o
- Bidding document provisions have been rationalized.
- o Training is imparted to field engineers and contractors as well as their staff for capacity building.
- o The Ministry has also conducted number of Contractor's Outreach Programmes in the States to attract the Contractors in the implementation of PMGSY.
- o In  order  to  encourage  locally  available  materials  and  use  of green technologies,  Vision  Document  on  New  Technology Initiatives & Guidelines-2022 was issued by the Ministry.
- o Information Technology is being used for reporting and monitoring of the progress.

The  progress  of  implementation  of  rural  roads  under  PMGSY  is regularly  reviewed  by  way  of  Regional  Review  Meetings  (RRMs), Performance  Review  Committee  (PRC)  Meetings,  Pre-Empowered/ Empowered Committee Meetings with the States. At District level, the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committee (DISHA) headed by Hon'ble Member of Parliament (LS) monitors the implementation of various schemes of Government of India including PMGSY.  In  addition  to  this,  special  review  meetings/monthly  review meetings are also held by Secretary/Additional Secretary/Joint Secretary, Ministry of Rural Development with Chief Secretaries/Principal Secretaries of the States.

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