Lok Sabha Question No. 2517 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-12-10
Subject: Rural Connectivity under PMGSY
Ministry: RURAL DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Smt. Hema Malini

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2517

## ANSWERED ON 10/12/2024

## RURAL CONNECTIVITY UNDER PMGSY

## 2517. SMT. HEMA MALINI:

Will the Minister of RURAL DEVELOPMENTbe pleased to state:

- (a) whether rural connectivity plays a vital role in enhancing the overall efficiency of people in the rural areas and strengthening the rural economy;
- (b) whether  Pradhan  Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana  is  successful  in enhancing the rural connectivity as per expectations; and
- (c) whether the Government proposes to amend the provisions to make  the  said  scheme  more  inclusive  and  if  so,  the  details thereof?

## ANSWER

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

(a) & (b): The  Government  of  India,  as  a  part  of  the  poverty reduction strategy, launched the Pradhan Mantri Gram SadakYojana (PMGSY-I) on 25th December, 2000 as a Centrally Sponsored Scheme 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  North-Eastern States, Himalayan States and Himalayan Union Territories and some special areas as per 2001 census) in the core network for uplifting the socio-economic condition of the rural population. In the critical Left  Wing  Extremism  affected  blocks,  habitations  with  population 100  persons  and  above  as  per  2001  census  are  also  covered. PMGSY-II was launched in the year 2013, with a target to upgrade 50,000 Km of the existing rural roads. Road Connectivity Project for Left  Wing  Extremism  Affected  Areas  (RCPLWEA)  was  launched  in 2016 for construction/ upgradation of strategically important roads in the 44 worst affected LWE districts and adjoining districts in the

9 affected States. PMGSY-III was launched in 2019 for consolidation of 1,25,000 Km Through Routes and Major Rural Links.

Various  independent  evaluation  studies,  conducted  by  NITI Aayog,  Indian  Institute  of  Management,  Ahmedabad  (IIM-A),  World Bank India and International Labour Organization (ILO), on Pradhan Mantri  Gram  SadakYojana  (PMGSY)  have  concluded  that  it  has improved access to education and health care facilities, facilitated employment generation in both farm and non-farm sectors, helped farmers in getting better farm prices etc. Since inception, a total of 1,90,155 road works measuring length 8,34,657 Km and 11,948 LSBs with  value  of  projects  amounting  to  Rs.  3,95,560  Crore  under various interventions/verticals of PMGSY have been sanctioned, out of  which, 1,81,151  road  works  measuring  length  7,69,51  Km  and 9,199  LSBs  have  been  completed till  6 th  December,  2024  at an expenditure of Rs 3,32,071 crore (including State share).

The evaluation of PMGSY, at the national level, by NITI Aayog, in 2020, has specifically mentioned the following impacts:

- i. Scheme  is  well  aligned  with  India's  International  Goals  and contributes to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as it  addresses  the  issues  of  poverty,  hunger  and  infrastructure for growth;
2. Roads  constructed  under  PMGSY  have  been  observed  to create  positive  impact  at  both  at  level  of  the  household  and
- ii. the community;
4. The roads have been observed to increase access to market and  livelihood  opportunities,  health  and  education  facilities;
- iii. and
- iv. PMGSY  is  noted  to  build  the  foundations  for  long-lasting poverty  reduction  in  rural  India.  Improved  rural  connectivity provides a long-term and sustained boost in the living standards  of  rural  populations  as  it  allows  households  to accumulate wealth and human capital.
7. (c):     Government  of  India  has  approved  phase  IV  of  PMGSY  in September  2024  to  provide  all-weather  connectivity  to  25,000 unconnected habitations of population size 500+ in plains, 250+ in NE  &  Hill  Sates/UTs,  special  category  areas  (Tribal  Schedule  V, Aspirational Districts/Blocks, Desert areas) and 100+ in  LWE affected  districts,  as  per  Census  2011.  The  PMGSY-IV  covers eligible  unconnected  habitations  which  have  become  eligible  in view of their population increase  as per Census 2011.

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